Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2: New Roles for a Known Molecule

Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is conventionally regarded as the main growth factor acting in the fetal body during pregnancy. Recent studies have demonstrated an important role for IGF2 in the adult body. The Igf2 gene has been shown to be expressed at a high level in the central nervous system, where it plays an important role, particularly mediating the consolidation of hippocampus-dependent memory by means an interaction with the M6F/IGF2 receptor. This review discusses the place of IGF2 in the insulin superfamily, especially its expression as an imprinted gene, the receptor apparatus, and its involvement in embryonic development, as well as the function of IGF2 in the adult body. Particular attention is paid to the role of IGF2 in the pathogenesis of mental and neurological diseases characterized by memory impairments such as schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer's disease, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite the fact that the question of the role of IGF2 in the pathogenesis of these diseases is still incompletely understood, further research in this area will allow new approaches to the treatment and diagnosis of these socially important nosologies to be developed.