Igfbp5, or Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 5, is an important secretory protein. It is related to the insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R) pathway, and can form complexes with IGFs, controlling their bioavailability [3]. It is involved in multiple biological processes such as inflammation, fibrosis, and angiogenesis, and is associated with various diseases including cancer, diabetes-related kidney disease, and cardiovascular diseases [1,2,3,4,5,6,7].

In the context of disease, in diabetic kidney disease, ablation of Igfbp5 in mice alleviated kidney inflammation, as Igfbp5 enhanced endothelial glycolysis through activating EGR1 and upregulating PFKFB3 [1]. In glioblastoma, knockdown of Igfbp5 in GSCs inhibited invasion both in vitro and in vivo [2]. In myocardial ischemia, heart-specific Igfbp5 knockdown in mice inhibited myocardial apoptosis and increased cardiomyocyte proliferation, and improved pathological cardiac remodeling and dysfunction [4]. Deletion of endothelial Igfbp5 in mice protected against ischaemic hindlimb injury by promoting angiogenesis [5].

In conclusion, Igfbp5 plays diverse roles in biological processes. Studies using gene knockout (KO) or conditional knockout (CKO) mouse models have revealed its functions in diseases like diabetic kidney disease, glioblastoma, myocardial ischemia, and ischaemic hindlimb injury, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target in these disease areas.