Advances in the relationship between insulin-like growth factor system and corneal diseases

Recently, an increasing number of studies on the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system have been conducted.In addition to its well-known regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation, enhanced metabolic activity, anti-apoptosis, and promotion of cell survival, the role of IGF in tumor growth, autophagy, longevity and aging, and oxidative stress has become a hot spot.Drugs targeting IGF signaling pathways are also progressing into the clinical experimental phase.This article summarized the important role of IGFs and its major signaling pathways in the growth and development, their relationship with the corneal diseases, and discussed the related problems and prospects.

Insulin-like growth factor-1; Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor; Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins; Insulin receptor substrate; Cornea diseases