Synonyms
Cytokines; Differentiation factors; Lymphokines; Mitogens
Definition
Growth factors are relatively small and stable, secreted or membrane-bound polypeptide ligands that mediate short-range cell-to-cell interactions. Growth factors and their cognate receptors function as a module that regulates various cellular processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, migration, or apoptosis. These modules are evolutionarily conserved, and their primary developmental function is determination of cell lineage through heterotypic cellular interactions. Many growth factors are versatile, promoting the appropriate biological outcome in several cell lineages, while others are more limited in scope. Growth factor expression is highly regulated, such that excessive growth factor activity is often associated with pathogenic hyperproliferation (e.g., cancer and psoriasis).
Classification
Growth factors are classified according to their structure and the family of receptors they activate....
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© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York
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Antonioli, F., Bublil, E.M., Yarden, Y. (2008). Growth Factors. In: Offermanns, S., Rosenthal, W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Molecular Pharmacology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-38918-7_160
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-38918-7_160
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-38916-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-38918-7
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