Endocrine Abstracts

Growth hormone (GH) signals through the GH receptor (GHR), a member of the cytokine receptor superfamily. The extracellular domain of the GHR exists as a soluble form known as the GH binding protein (GHBP). The GHBP is either derived from the GHR by proteolysis (man, rabbit) or from the GHR gene by alternative splicing (rodents). The GHBP circulates in blood and modulates GH action by i) altering GH kinetics, ii) competing with GHRs for ligand, and iii) unproductive GHR/GHBP h...