The presence of classical insulin-like growth factor (IGF) type-I and -II receptors on mouse osteoblasts: autocrine/paracrine growth effect of IGFs?

Specific binding to and proliferative actions of insulin-like growth factors-I and -II (IGF-I and -II) on fetal mouse osteoblasts were tested. Membranes of mouse osteoblasts were shown by binding competition studies to possess specific binding sites for IGF-I and IGF-II. When IGF-I was used as a tracer, half-maximal displacement was obtained with 1.11 micrograms IGF-I/l and with 14 micrograms IGF-II/l. Displacement of 125I-labelled IGF-I was accomplished with 2.33 micrograms IGF-II/l and with 55 micrograms IGF-I/l. Affinity cross-linking showed bands of 130 kDa 125I-labelled IGF-I and 260 kDa 125I-labelled IGF-II under reducing conditions, further indicating the presence of classical type-I and -II receptor sites on mouse osteoblasts. Mitogenic effects of IGFs were weak; a combination with epidermal growth factor or fibroblast growth factor showed strong synergistic action however. The possibility of autocrine/paracrine actions of IGFs is discussed.