Mechanism of growth hormone action: Recent developments - A review

The interaction of growth hormone with it's receptor results in dimerization of receptor, a feature known in action of certain cytokines. The interaction results in generation of number of signalling molecules. The involvement of Janus kinases, mitogen activated kinases, signal transduction and activator of transcription proteins, insulin like substrate, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, phospholipase C, protein kinase C is almost established in growth hormone action. There are still many missing links in explaining diversified activities of growth hormone. Amino acid sequence data for growth hormones and growth hormone receptors from a number of species have proved useful in understanding species specific effects of growth hormone. Complete understanding of growth hormone action can have implications in designing drugs for obtaining desired effects of growth hormone.