Healing & recovery
PEG-MGF: published research
Also known as Pegylated mechano growth factor
A form of IGF-1 that muscle makes after stretch or injury (MGF), with a PEG chain added so it lasts longer. Published research mostly uses the short MGF 'E-peptide' and looks at how bone, tendon and muscle repair after damage.
Evidence at a glance
4 studies 2011–2020
- 3 Animal study
- 1 Cell study
What researchers look at
- Bone repair
- Tendon healing
- Muscle repair
- Mechanical loading
What is still unknown
Data are from animals and cells only, mostly with the E-peptide rather than the pegylated form; there are no human studies.
Animal studies
3- Animal study
In MC3T3-E1 bone cells, synthetic MGF E peptides (not PEG-MGF), especially T-MGF-19E, promoted proliferation, differentiation and mineralization, and low-dose T-MGF-19E injections promoted bone-defect healing in rabbits.
Wei W, et al. MGF-19E peptide promoted proliferation, differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cell and promoted bone defect healing. Gene. 2020. PMID 32339623
- Animal study
In rats with injured Achilles tendons, a synthetic MGF E peptide (MGF-C25E, not PEG-MGF) improved tendon function scores, repair appearance and repaired-tendon stiffness compared with saline.
Zhang B, et al. Mechano-growth factor E peptide promotes healing of rat injured tendon. Biotechnology Letters. 2016. PMID 27334712
- Animal study
In MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells, the MGF E peptide MGF-Ct24E (not PEG-MGF) increased proliferation more than IGF-1, and in rabbits with radius bone defects, high-dose injections improved healing versus no growth-factor treatment.
Deng M, et al. Mechano growth factor E peptide promotes osteoblasts proliferation and bone-defect healing in rabbits. International Orthopaedics. 2011. PMID 21057789
Cell studies
1- Cell study
In cultured rat tendon cells, the synthetic MGF E peptide MGF-C25E (not PEG-MGF) promoted cell migration and reduced cell stiffness, effects that depended on FAK-ERK1/2 signalling.
Zhang B, et al. A synthetic mechano-growth factor E peptide promotes rat tenocyte migration by lessening cell stiffness and increasing F-actin formation via the FAK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Experimental Cell Research. 2014. PMID 24434354
Short summaries of published studies, with links to the original papers. Results in animals or cells may not apply to people. This is not medical advice and not a guide to use.