Platelet-Derived Growth Factors, PDGFs

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is one among numerous growth factors that regulate cell growth and division. In particular, PDGF plays an important role in blood vessel formation, blood vessel growth in existing vascular tissues, mitosis of mesenchymal cells, and chemotaxis of mesenchymal cells. Platelet-derived growth factor is a dimeric glycoprotein that can be composed of two A subunits (PDGF-AA), two B subunits (PDGF-BB), or one of each (PDGF-AB). There are five different isoforms of PDGF that activate cellular response through two different receptors. Known ligands include: PDGF-AA (PDGFA), -BB (PDGFB), -CC (PDGFC), and -DD (PDGFD), and -AB (a PDGFA and PDGFB heterodimer). The ligands interact with the two tyrosine kinase receptor monomers, PDGFRα (PDGFRA) and -Rβ (PDGFRB). Recombinant PDGF is used in medicine to help heal chronic ulcers and in orthopedic surgery and periodontics as an alternative to bone autograft to stimulate bone regeneration and repair.