Function and regulatory mechanism of RNA-binding protein IGF2BP2 in obesity and cancers.

Obesity is a critical risk factor for numerous metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease and various types of cancers. The accumulation and function of adipose tissue are highly regulated by multiple genes at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) is a key RNA-binding protein that regulates a range of RNA metabolism processes, including mRNA stability, translation, and localization. Notably, accumulating studies indicate that IGF2BP2 is strongly associated with the risk of T2D and plays a significant role in controlling gene expression and signal pathways in metabolic diseases. Moreover, significant development has been made in understanding the regulatory mechanisms and function of IGF2BP2 in tumorigenesis, such as pancreatic cancer, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), hepatocellular carcinoma, etc. Considering that obesity is a key contributing fatcor of cancers, this Review highlights the significant role of IGF2BP2 in obesity and cancers, providing insights into potential therapeutic targets and strategies for related diseases.