insulin like growth factor 2
Last updated 4 Mar 2025
Meets Patient’s editorial guidelines
- DownloadDownload
- Share
- Language
- Discussion
- Audio Version
- Add to preferred sources on Google
The IGF2 gene provides instructions for making a protein called insulin-like growth factor 2. This protein plays an essential role in growth and development before birth. Studies suggest that insulin-like growth factor 2 promotes the growth and division (proliferation) of cells in many different tissues. Although the IGF2 gene is highly active during fetal development, it is much less active after birth.
Normal function
The IGF2 gene provides instructions for making a protein called insulin-like growth factor 2. This protein plays an essential role in growth and development before birth. Studies suggest that insulin-like growth factor 2 promotes the growth and division (proliferation) of cells in many different tissues. Although the IGF2 gene is highly active during fetal development, it is much less active after birth.
In most cases, people receive one copy of each gene from the egg cell and one copy from the sperm cell. Both copies are usually active, or "turned on," in cells. However, the activity of the IGF2 gene depends on whether the gene comes from the sperm cell or the egg cell. In most cases, only the IGF2 gene from the sperm cell is active. This parent-specific difference in gene activation is called genomic imprinting.
A nearby region of DNA regulates the genomic imprinting of the IGF2 gene and another gene, called H19, that is important for growth and development. This region is known as an imprinting center or imprinting control region. In a process known as methylation, small molecules called methyl groups are added to the imprinting center to regulate the activity of the IGF2 and H19 genes. Typically, only the copy of the IGF2 imprinting center that is derived from the sperm cell is methylated.
Conditions referring to this gene or chromosome
Other names
C11orf43
GRDF
IGF-2
IGF-II
insulin-like growth factor 2
insulin-like growth factor II
pp9974
somatomedin A
Related patient information and medicines
Patient information leaflet
Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a rare, progressive condition in which you make too much growth hormone. This causes a range of symptoms that develop gradually, often over several years. This can cause an underac... How is acromegaly diagnosed. A blood test to measure the level of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) (see below) is used if acromegaly is suspected..
Patient information leaflet
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy symptoms Initial symptoms that may occur include:... Stage 3: proliferative retinopathy Proliferative retinopathy is the advanced diabetic retinopathy that occurs when damaged blood vessels in the retina make chemicals called growth factors. Eye checks for diabetic retinopathy NICE guidance on screening and referral for.
Patient information leaflet
Cystic fibrosis
Damage to the liver, which may lead to 'scarring' of the liver ( cirrhosis ). Liver damage occurs in about 1 in 12 cases (if the small ducts in the liver become blocked or damaged). Diabetes. (Special cells in the pancreas make insulin. If the pancreas becomes severely damaged over time then insulin levels go down and cystic fibrosis-related.
Patient information leaflet
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer (cancer of the pancreas) is largely a disease of older age - 47% of UK cases occur in those aged 75 or over and the most common age to be diagnosed is 85 - 89. If it is diagnosed at an early... Other types of pancreatic cancer There are some rare types of cancer which arise from other types of cells within the pancreas. For.
Patient information leaflet
Can I take Royal sun and White button together?
Both Royal Sun (Agaricus blazei) and White Button mushrooms contain compounds that may lower blood sugar levels. Additionally, both mushrooms may have mild blood-thinning effects, which could slightly increase the risk of bruising or bleeding if taken ... Why this happens These mushrooms contain beta-glucans and other compounds that can improve.
Patient information leaflet
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone made naturally in the body by the pancreas. This hormone controls the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Insulin is a hormone that is made by cells called beta cells. These are part of little islands of cells (islets) within the p... See references below. Type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes is the type which occurs mostly in.
Further reading and references
- insulin like growth factor 2; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Abu-Amero S, Monk D, Frost J, Preece M, Stanier P, Moore GE. The genetic aetiology of Silver-Russell syndrome. J Med Genet. 2008 Apr;45(4):193-9. doi: 10.1136/jmg.2007.053017. Epub 2007 Dec 21.
- Al-Hussain T, Ali A, Akhtar M. Wilms tumor: an update. Adv Anat Pathol. 2014 May;21(3):166-73. doi: 10.1097/PAP.0000000000000017.
- Bergman D, Halje M, Nordin M, Engstrom W. Insulin-like growth factor 2 in development and disease: a mini-review. Gerontology. 2013;59(3):240-9. doi: 10.1159/000343995. Epub 2012 Dec 20.
- Cerrato F, Sparago A, Verde G, De Crescenzo A, Citro V, Cubellis MV, Rinaldi MM, Boccuto L, Neri G, Magnani C, D'Angelo P, Collini P, Perotti D, Sebastio G, Maher ER, Riccio A. Different mechanisms cause imprinting defects at the IGF2/H19 locus in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and Wilms' tumour. Hum Mol Genet. 2008 May 15;17(10):1427-35. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddn031. Epub 2008 Feb 1.
- Eggermann T. Silver-Russell and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndromes: opposite (epi)mutations in 11p15 result in opposite clinical pictures. Horm Res. 2009 Apr;71 Suppl 2:30-5. doi: 10.1159/000192433. Epub 2009 Apr 29.
- Kaneda A, Wang CJ, Cheong R, Timp W, Onyango P, Wen B, Iacobuzio-Donahue CA, Ohlsson R, Andraos R, Pearson MA, Sharov AA, Longo DL, Ko MS, Levchenko A, Feinberg AP. Enhanced sensitivity to IGF-II signaling links loss of imprinting of IGF2 to increased cell proliferation and tumor risk. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Dec 26;104(52):20926-31. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0710359105. Epub 2007 Dec 17.
- Livingstone C. IGF2 and cancer. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2013 Oct 24;20(6):R321-39. doi: 10.1530/ERC-13-0231. Print 2013 Dec.
- MacFarland SP, Duffy KA, Bhatti TR, Bagatell R, Balamuth NJ, Brodeur GM, Ganguly A, Mattei PA, Surrey LF, Balis FM, Kalish JM. Diagnosis of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome in children presenting with Wilms tumor. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2018 Oct;65(10):e27296. doi: 10.1002/pbc.27296. Epub 2018 Jun 22.
- Pickard A, McCance DJ. IGF-Binding Protein 2 - Oncogene or Tumor Suppressor? Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2015 Feb 27;6:25. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2015.00025. eCollection 2015.
- Sparago A, Cerrato F, Vernucci M, Ferrero GB, Silengo MC, Riccio A. Microdeletions in the human H19 DMR result in loss of IGF2 imprinting and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Nat Genet. 2004 Sep;36(9):958-60. doi: 10.1038/ng1410. Epub 2004 Aug 15.
- Tian F, Yourek G, Shi X, Yang Y. The development of Wilms tumor: from WT1 and microRNA to animal models. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2014 Aug;1846(1):180-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2014.07.003. Epub 2014 Jul 11.
- Turner JT, Brzezinski J, Dome JS. Wilms Tumor Predisposition. 2003 Dec 19 [updated 2022 Mar 24]. In: Adam MP, Bick S, Mirzaa GM, Wallace SE, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2026. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1294/
Join the conversation
Share your thoughts or experiences with others in our patient communities.
Ask, share, connect.
Browse discussions, ask questions, and share experiences across hundreds of health topics.
Sign up to the Patient newsletter
Your weekly dose of clear, trustworthy health advice - written to help you feel informed, confident and in control.
By subscribing you accept our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. We never sell your data.