Editing Platelet-derived growth factor (section)

{{Short description|Signaling glycoprotein regulating cell proliferation}}
{{Redirect|PDGF|the space hardware|Power Data Grapple Fixture}}
{{Infobox protein family
| Symbol = PDGF
| Name = Platelet-derived growth factor
| image = 1pdg.jpg
| width = 270
| caption = Platelet-derived growth factor BB monomer, Human
| Pfam= PF00341
| InterPro= IPR000072
| SMART=
| Prosite = PDOC00222
| SCOP = 1pdg
| TCDB =
| OPM family=
| OPM protein=
}}

'''Platelet-derived growth factor''' ('''PDGF''') is one among numerous [[growth factor]]s that regulate [[cell (biology)|cell]] growth and [[cell division|division]]. In particular, PDGF plays a significant role in [[Angiogenesis|blood vessel formation]], the growth of blood vessels from already-existing blood vessel tissue, mitogenesis, i.e. proliferation, of mesenchymal cells such as fibroblasts, osteoblasts, tenocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells and mesenchymal stem cells as well as [[chemotaxis]], the directed migration, of mesenchymal cells. Platelet-derived growth factor is a [[protein dimer|dimeric]] [[glycoprotein]] that can be composed of two A subunits (PDGF-AA), two B subunits (PDGF-BB), or one of each (PDGF-AB).

PDGF<ref name="PUB00000590">{{cite journal |vauthors=Hannink M, Donoghue DJ | title = Structure and function of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and related proteins | journal = Biochim. Biophys. Acta | volume = 989 | issue = 1 | pages = 1–10 | year = 1989 | pmid = 2546599 | doi = 10.1016/0304-419x(89)90031-0 }}</ref><ref name="PUB00001228">{{cite journal | author = Heldin CH | title = Structural and functional studies on platelet-derived growth factor | journal = EMBO J. | volume = 11 | issue = 12 | pages = 4251–4259 | year = 1992 | pmid = 1425569 | pmc = 556997 | doi = 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1992.tb05523.x }}</ref> is a potent [[mitogen]] for cells of [[mesenchymal]] origin, including [[fibroblasts]],  [[smooth muscle cells]] and [[glial cells]]. In both mouse and human, the PDGF signalling network consists of five ligands, PDGF-AA through -DD (including -AB), and two receptors, PDGFRalpha and PDGFRbeta. All PDGFs function as secreted, disulphide-linked homodimers, but only PDGFA and B can form functional heterodimers.

Though PDGF is synthesized,<ref>{{cite web|last=Minarcik|first=John|title=Global Path Course: Video|url=http://www.gopathdx.com/?action-model-name-lectures-itemid-69|access-date=2011-06-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929134650/http://www.gopathdx.com/?action-model-name-lectures-itemid-69|archive-date=2018-09-29|url-status=dead}}</ref> stored (in the alpha granules of [[platelets]]),<ref>{{cite web|title=The Basic Biology of Platelet Growth Factors|date = September 2004|url=http://www.perfusion.com/cgi-bin/absolutenm/templates/articledisplay.asp?articleid=1678&|access-date=2014-05-08}}</ref> and released by platelets upon activation, it is also produced by other cells including smooth muscle cells, activated macrophages, and endothelial cells<ref>{{cite book|last=Kumar|first=Vinay|title=Robbins and Coltran Pathologic Basis of Disease|year=2010|publisher=Elsevier|location=China|isbn=978-1-4160-3121-5|pages=88–89}}</ref>

[[Recombinant DNA|Recombinant]] PDGF is used in medicine to help heal [[Ulcer (dermatology)|chronic ulcers]], to heal ocular surface diseases and in orthopedic surgery and periodontics as an alternative to bone autograft to stimulate bone regeneration and repair.