MGF (Mechano Growth Factor)

Key Benefits#

• Activates muscle satellite cells for repair and growth
• Accelerates recovery from muscle damage
• Synergistic with IGF-1 LR3 (different mechanisms)
• Promotes muscle hypertrophy specifically at exercised muscles
• Faster recovery between training sessions
• Potential for injury repair in connective tissue

Mechanism of Action#

MGF is the IGF-1Ec splice variant produced locally in muscle following mechanical stress (resistance training). Its unique C-terminal peptide (Ec peptide) activates quiescent muscle satellite cells, causing them to proliferate and fuse with existing muscle fibers for repair and growth. This is distinct from IGF-1 LR3's systemic anabolic effects — MGF is a local, mechanically-triggered growth signal. Pegylated MGF (PEG-MGF) has an extended half-life from minutes to days.

Dosing Protocols#

Side Effects#

• Muscle soreness (satellite cell activation)
• Injection site irritation
• Hypoglycemia risk (modest, less than IGF-1 LR3)

Contraindications#

Active cancer or history of cancer. Pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Storage#

Lyophilized powder: store at −20°C. Reconstituted: refrigerate at 2–8°C, use within 30 days.

Featured In Stacks#

1. 1.
   Mechanical growth factor inhibited syndesmophyte formation and the progression of osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis-like symptoms in HLA-B27/Hu-β2m transgenic rats

   Moro A, Qin H, Yuan S, Li H, Liao S, Yang J · Arthritis research & therapy · 2025PubMed Verified

2. 2.
   The Effects of IGF1 and MGF on Neural Stem Cells in Hypoxic Conditions

   Aydıntuğ-Gürbüz T, Toprak F, Toprak S, Sözer S · Basic and clinical neuroscience · 2024PubMed Verified

3. 3.
   Mechano-growth factor regulates periodontal ligament stem cell proliferation and differentiation through Fyn-RhoA-YAP signaling

   Feng F, Tu T, Wang H, Song R, Li J, Zhu Y et al. · Biochemical and biophysical research communications · 2024PubMed Verified

4. 4.
   Mechanochemical coupling of MGF mediates periodontal regeneration

   Zhao Y, Zhang S, Cheng B, Feng F, Zhu Y, Liu Y et al. · Bioengineering & translational medicine · 2024PubMed Verified

5. 5.
   The role of mechano growth factor in chondrocytes and cartilage defects: a concise review

   Liu Y, Duan M, Zhang D, Xie J · Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica · 2023ReviewPubMed Verified

6. 6.
   The Roles of IGF-1 and MGF on Nerve Regeneration under Hypoxia- Ischemia, Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Physical Trauma

   Sha Y, Chen L, Xu C, Zhang B, Hong H, Wang C · Current protein & peptide science · 2023ReviewPubMed Verified

7. 7.
   Mechano-growth factor E-domain modulates cardiac contractile function through 14-3-3 protein interactomes

   Solís C, Thompson WC, Peña JR, McDermott-Roe C, Langa P, Warren CM et al. · Frontiers in physiology · 2022PubMed Verified

8. 8.
   Improved Muscle Regeneration into a Joint Prosthesis with Mechano-Growth Factor Loaded within Mesoporous Silica Combined with Carbon Nanotubes on a Porous Titanium Alloy

   Wei X, Chen Q, Bu L, Wan X, Jiao Z, Han Z et al. · ACS nano · 2022PubMed Verified

9. 9.
   Targeting Hydrogen Sulfide Modulates Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Atrophy and Microvascular Rarefaction, through Inhibition of NOX4 and Induction of MGF, M2 Macrophages and Endothelial Progenitors

   Adel M, Elsayed HRH, El-Nablaway M, Hamed S, Eladl A, Fouad S et al. · Cells · 2022PubMed Verified

10. 10.
    Mechano Growth Factor Accelerates ACL Repair and Improves Cell Mobility of Mechanically Injured Human ACL Fibroblasts by Targeting Rac1-PAK1/2 and RhoA-ROCK1 Pathways

    Sha Y, Zhang B, Chen L, Hong H, Chi Q · International journal of molecular sciences · 2022PubMed Verified

11. 11.
    Detection of insulin analogues and large peptides >2 kDa in urine

    Cox HD, Knussmann GN, Moore C, Eichner D · Drug testing and analysis · 2022PubMed Verified

12. 12.
    Pretreatment with mechano growth factor E peptide attenuates osteoarthritis through improving cell proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis in chondrocytes under severe hypoxia

    Sha Y, Cai W, Mohanad Khalid A, Chi Q, Wang J, Sun T et al. · International immunopharmacology · 2021PubMed Verified

13. 13.
    Surface modification of electrospun fibers with mechano-growth factor for mitigating the foreign-body reaction

    Song Y, Li L, Zhao W, Qian Y, Dong L, Fang Y et al. · Bioactive materials · 2021PubMed Verified

14. 14.
    In vitro investigation of growth factors including MGF and IGF-1 in neural stem cell activation, proliferation, and migration

    Tunç BS, Toprak F, Toprak SF, Sozer S · Brain research · 2021PubMed Verified

15. 15.
    Role of Alternatively Spliced Messenger RNA (mRNA) Isoforms of the Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1) in Selected Human Tumors

    Kasprzak A, Szaflarski W · International journal of molecular sciences · 2020ReviewPubMed Verified

16. 16.
    Increased expression of IGF-1Ec with increasing colonic polyp dysplasia and colorectal cancer

    Alagaratnam S, Loizidou M, Yang SY, Fuller B, Ramesh B · Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology · 2020PubMed Verified

17. 17.
    Mechano growth factor interacts with nucleolin to protect against cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity

    Podratz JL, Tang JJ, Polzin MJ, Schmeichel AM, Nesbitt JJ, Windebank AJ et al. · Experimental neurology · 2020PubMed Verified

18. 18.
    MGF-19E peptide promoted proliferation, differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cell and promoted bone defect healing

    Wei W, Liu S, Song J, Feng T, Yang R, Cheng Y et al. · Gene · 2020PubMed Verified

19. 19.
    Effect of enhanced masticatory force on OPG, RANKL and MGF in alveolar bone of ovariectomized rats

    Ma Z, Li S, Sun Y · Journal of applied oral science : revista FOB · 2020PubMed Verified

20. 20.
    Mechano growth factor pretreatment yield mechanical stimuli induced cell stress responses in ligament fibroblasts of osteoarthritis via activating ATF-2

    Ma Y, Song Y, Li L, Dong L, Wang C, Wang P et al. · Biotechnology letters · 2020PubMed Verified

21. 21.
    Splicing factor-modulated generation of mechano growth factor regulates physiological processes in osteoblasts under mechanical stimuli

    Yi Q, Liu H, Feng J, Wu Y, Sun W, Ou M et al. · Cell adhesion & migration · 2019PubMed Verified

22. 22.
    Local Vibration Stimuli Induce Mechanical Stress-Induced Factors and Facilitate Recovery From Immobilization-Induced Oxidative Myofiber Atrophy in Rats

    Usuki F, Fujimura M, Nakamura A, Nakano J, Okita M, Higuchi I · Frontiers in physiology · 2019PubMed Verified

23. 23.
    Impaired Skeletal Muscle Regeneration Induced by Macrophage Depletion Could Be Partly Ameliorated by MGF Injection

    Liu X, Zeng Z, Zhao L, Chen P, Xiao W · Frontiers in physiology · 2019PubMed Verified

24. 24.
    Potassium chloride released from contracting skeletal muscle may stimulate development of its hypertrophy

    Kravchenko IV, Furalyov VA, Popov VO · Biochemistry and biophysics reports · 2019PubMed Verified

25. 25.
    Mechano-growth Factor Expression in Colorectal Cancer Investigated With Fluorescent Gold Nanoparticles

    Alagaratnam S, Yang SY, Loizidou M, Fuller B, Ramesh B · Anticancer research · 2019PubMed Verified

26. 26.
    Mechano growth factor attenuates mechanical overload-induced nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis through inhibiting the p38 MAPK pathway

    Xu Q, Fang H, Zhao L, Zhang C, Zhang L, Tian B · Bioscience reports · 2019PubMed Verified

27. 27.
    MGF E peptide improves anterior cruciate ligament repair by inhibiting hypoxia-induced cell apoptosis and accelerating angiogenesis

    Sha Y, Yang L, Lv Y · Journal of cellular physiology · 2019PubMed Verified

28. 28.
    Effects of different types of exercise on skeletal muscle atrophy, antioxidant capacity and growth factors expression following myocardial infarction

    Cai M, Wang Q, Liu Z, Jia D, Feng R, Tian Z · Life sciences · 2018PubMed Verified

29. 29.
    Overexpression of Mechano-Growth Factor Modulates Inflammatory Cytokine Expression and Macrophage Resolution in Skeletal Muscle Injury

    Sun KT, Cheung KK, Au SWN, Yeung SS, Yeung EW · Frontiers in physiology · 2018PubMed Verified

30. 30.
    Mechano-growth factor protects against mechanical overload induced damage and promotes migration of growth plate chondrocytes through RhoA/YAP pathway

    Jing X, Ye Y, Bao Y, Zhang J, Huang J, Wang R et al. · Experimental cell research · 2018PubMed Verified

31. 31.
    ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation were essential for MGF E peptide regulating cell morphology and mobility but not proangiogenic capacity of BMSCs under severe hypoxia

    Sha Y, Yang L, Lv Y · Cell biochemistry and function · 2018PubMed Verified

32. 32.
    Aerobic-Strength Exercise Improves Metabolism and Clinical State in Parkinson's Disease Patients

    Krumpolec P, Vallova S, Slobodova L, Tirpakova V, Vajda M, Schon M et al. · Frontiers in neurology · 2017PubMed Verified

33. 33.
    Hypertrophy Stimulation at the Onset of Type I Diabetes Maintains the Soleus but Not the EDL Muscle Mass in Wistar Rats

    Fortes MAS, Scervino MVM, Marzuca-Nassr GN, Vitzel KF, da Justa Pinheiro CH, Curi R · Frontiers in physiology · 2017PubMed Verified

34. 34.
    Mechano growth factor E peptide inhibits invasion of melanoma cells and up-regulates CHOP expression via endoplasmic reticulum stress

    He J, Dong L, Xu K, Qian Y, Wang C, Sha Y et al. · Biotechnology letters · 2018PubMed Verified

35. 35.
    MGF E peptide pretreatment improves the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs via MEK-ERK1/2 and PI3K-Akt pathway under severe hypoxia

    Sha Y, Lv Y, Xu Z, Yang L, Hao X, Afandi R · Life sciences · 2017PubMed Verified

36. 36.
    Impact of Chiropractic Manipulation on Bone and Skeletal Muscle of Ovariectomized Rats

    López-Herradón A, Fujikawa R, Gómez-Marín M, Stedile-Lovatel JP, Mulero F, Ardura JA et al. · Calcified tissue international · 2017PubMed Verified

37. 37.
    Mechano growth factor, a splice variant of IGF-1, promotes neurogenesis in the aging mouse brain

    Tang JJ, Podratz JL, Lange M, Scrable HJ, Jang MH, Windebank AJ · Molecular brain · 2017PubMed Verified

38. 38.
    The use of mechano growth factor to prevent cartilage degeneration in knee osteoarthritis

    Song Y, Xu K, Yu C, Dong L, Chen P, Lv Y et al. · Journal of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine · 2018PubMed Verified

39. 39.
    MGF E peptide pretreatment improves collagen synthesis and cell proliferation of injured human ACL fibroblasts via MEK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway

    Sha Y, Afandi R, Zhang B, Yang L, Lv Y · Growth factors (Chur, Switzerland) · 2017PubMed Verified

40. 40.
    The Generation of Dehydroalanine Residues in Protonated Polypeptides: Ion/Ion Reactions for Introducing Selective Cleavages

    Peng Z, Bu J, McLuckey SA · Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry · 2017PubMed Verified

41. 41.
    The structure-function relationships of insulin-like growth factor 1 Ec in C2C12 cells

    Yi Q, Feng J, He L, Wan R, Zeng H, Yang L et al. · Cell adhesion & migration · 2018PubMed Verified

42. 42.
    Detection and in vitro metabolism of the confiscated peptides BPC 157 and MGF R23H

    Cox HD, Miller GD, Eichner D · Drug testing and analysis · 2017PubMed Verified

43. 43.
    Potential effect of mechano growth factor E-domain peptide on axonal guidance growth in primary cultured cortical neurons of rats

    Liu M, Niu X, Zhou G, Jia Z, Li P, Fan Y · Journal of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine · 2018PubMed Verified

44. 44.
    Intramuscular injection of mechano growth factor E domain peptide regulated expression of memory-related sod, miR-134 and miR-125b-3p in rat hippocampus under simulated weightlessness

    Chen H, Lv K, Dai Z, Ji G, Wang T, Wang Y et al. · Biotechnology letters · 2016PubMed Verified

45. 45.
    Regulation of myoglobin in hypertrophied rat cardiomyocytes in experimental pulmonary hypertension

    Peters EL, Offringa C, Kos D, Van der Laarse WJ, Jaspers RT · Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology · 2016PubMed Verified

46. 46.
    Impact of Physical Exercise on Endocrine Aging

    Janssen JA · Frontiers of hormone research · 2016ReviewPubMed Verified

47. 47.
    Mechano-growth factor E peptide promotes healing of rat injured tendon

    Zhang B, Luo Q, Kuang D, Ju Y, Song G · Biotechnology letters · 2016PubMed Verified

48. 48.
    Effects of resistance training on expression of IGF-I splice variants in younger and older men

    Ahtiainen JP, Hulmi JJ, Lehti M, Kraemer WJ, Nyman K, Selänne H et al. · European journal of sport science · 2016PubMed Verified

49. 49.
    Interaction between muscle and bone, and improving the effects of electrical muscle stimulation on amyotrophy and bone loss in a denervation rat model via sciatic neurectomy

    Feng BO, Wu W, Wang H, Wang J, Huang D, Cheng L · Biomedical reports · 2016PubMed Verified

50. 50.
    In vitro and in vivo degradation and mechanical properties of ZEK100 magnesium alloy coated with alginate, chitosan and mechano-growth factor

    Gao H, Zhang M, Zhao J, Gao L, Li M · Materials science & engineering. C, Materials for biological applications · 2016PubMed Verified