IGF2 acts downstream of Hippo signaling to regulate organ growth and restore liver regeneration in aging.
Hippo-IGF2 signaling axis controls organ size by regulating growth during development and regeneration, with Igf2 restoring liver growth in aged mice.
- Why it matters: Understanding how organ size is precisely controlled is crucial for addressing developmental disorders and improving regenerative therapies, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully known.
- What they did: The study examined the Hippo pathway and Igf2 expression in mouse liver development and injury, revealing that Hippo signaling suppresses Igf2 postnatally, but injury reactivates Igf2 to promote regeneration; ectopic Igf2 restores growth in aged mice.
- The result: Findings demonstrate that the Hippo-IGF2 axis is a key regulator of organ growth, enabling potential therapeutic strategies to enhance regeneration and counteract age-related growth decline.