MGF / Mechano Growth Factor

MGF is a splice variant of IGF-1 that is expressed in muscle following exercise or mechanical stress. It promotes satellite cell activation and muscle repair. It has a very short half-life.

PubMed results: 162 · Human studies: 80 · Animal studies: 142

Ranges reflect protocols studied in published research and animal-model extrapolation. Presented for research purposes only, not a recommendation or instruction for human use.

Doses studied in published research. Information presented for research purposes only, not a recommendation for human use.

• Intramuscular (preclinical / localized research delivery) — standard range No established human dosing, Not established in humans. Published work is largely animal or in vitro (localized/eluting delivery or systemic preclinical models). Endogenous MGF expression is transient after mechanical load. Informal research-community mcg ranges for synthetic MGF are not supported by controlled human trials; PEG-MGF dosing is likewise preclinical/anecdotal rather than protocol-standardized.

Minutes (native synthetic E-domain); not rigorously quantified in humans (low confidence)

Native MGF/IGF-1Ec C-terminal E-domain peptide is described in the literature as rapidly degraded in body fluids with an extremely short systemic half-life; PEGylated MGF (PEG-MGF) was developed to extend stability for research use. No published human pharmacokinetic study establishes a precise terminal half-life for unconjugated research MGF.

• Satellite cell activation after mechanical stress (Strong preclinical): Mechano growth factor, an IGF-1 splice variant induced by muscle loading, has been studied for local activation of satellite cells and early repair signaling after stretch or exercise injury models.
• Muscle repair and regeneration research (Strong preclinical): Animal and cell studies associate MGF expression with hypertrophic and regenerative responses in skeletal muscle following mechanical overload.
• Local autocrine IGF-1 isoform signaling (Limited): Research distinguishes MGF’s short-lived local isoform signaling from circulating IGF-1; human exogenous MGF data remain limited and half-life is very short.

• Limited human adverse-event characterization — Mild, Not established. Robust clinical safety datasets for exogenous MGF are lacking; most risk inferences are extrapolated from IGF-axis biology and anecdotal research-peptide reports.
• Injection-site reactions — Mild, Anecdotal. Local irritation at administration sites is anecdotally described for short peptides with rapid clearance; formal frequency is not established.

• Active or history of malignancy (IGF-axis caution) (Theoretical / Preclinical): IGF-related growth signaling raises theoretical concern about supporting proliferative environments; research protocols typically exclude active cancer.
• Uncontrolled diabetes / significant insulin resistance under study (Theoretical / Preclinical): IGF-1 pathway peptides can interact with glucose metabolism research endpoints and are often restricted in metabolic instability.

Lyophilized (powder): Frozen (-20°C), Up to 24 months. Light sensitive: yes, store dark

Reconstituted (solution): Refrigerated (2-8°C), 4-6 weeks. Solvent: Bacteriostatic water

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