A Stimulatory Thyrotropin Receptor Antibody Enhances Hyaluronic Acid Synthesis in Graves' Orbital Fibroblasts: Inhibition by an IGF-I Receptor Blocking Antibody

The stimulatory TRAb M22 increases HA production in undifferentiated GO orbital fibroblasts via phosphoinositide 3-kinase/phosphorylated AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin activation. Blockade of IGF-IR inhibits both HA synthesis and Akt phosphorylation induced by M22 or IGF-I in these cells, suggesting that TSH receptor and IGF-IR signaling may be closely linked in the GO orbit.