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Genetic disorders in the GH–IGF-I axis in mouse and man

Department of Pediatrics J6-S, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands

(Correspondence should be addressed to M J E Walenkamp; Email: m.walenkamp{at}lumc.nl)

This paper was presented at the Ipsen symposium, ‘The evolving biology of growth and metabolism’, Lisbon, Portugal, 16–18 March 2007. Ipsen has supported the publication of these proceedings.

Abstract

Animal knockout experiments have offered the opportunity to study genes that play a role in growth and development. In the last few years, reports of patients with genetic defects in GH–IGF-I axis have greatly increased our knowledge of genetically determined causes of short stature. We will present the animal data and human reports of genetic disorders in the GH–IGF-I axis in order to describe the role of the GH–IGF-I axis in intrauterine and postnatal growth. In addition, the effects of the GH–IGF-I axis on the development and function of different organ systems such as brain, inner ear, eye, skeleton, glucose homeostasis, gonadal function, and immune system will be discussed. The number of patients with genetic defects in the GH–IGF-I axis is small, and a systematic diagnostic approach and selective genetic analysis in a patient with short stature are essential to identify more patients. Finally, the implications of a genetic defect in the GH–IGF-I axis for the patient and the therapeutic options will be discussed.