AUTHOR=Slavin Benjamin R. , Sarhane Karim A. , von Guionneau Nicholas , Hanwright Phillip J. , Qiu Chenhu , Mao Hai-Quan , Höke Ahmet , Tuffaha Sami H. TITLE=Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1: A Promising Therapeutic Target for Peripheral Nerve Injury JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology VOLUME=9 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2021.695850 DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2021.695850 ISSN=2296-4185 ABSTRACT=

Patients who sustain peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) are often left with debilitating sensory and motor loss. Presently, there is a lack of clinically available therapeutics that can be given as an adjunct to surgical repair to enhance the regenerative process. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) represents a promising therapeutic target to meet this need, given its well-described trophic and anti-apoptotic effects on neurons, Schwann cells (SCs), and myocytes. Here, we review the literature regarding the therapeutic potential of IGF-1 in PNI. We appraised the literature for the various approaches of IGF-1 administration with the aim of identifying which are the most promising in offering a pathway toward clinical application. We also sought to determine the optimal reported dosage ranges for the various delivery approaches that have been investigated.