Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is expressed as homo and heterodimers : PDGF-AB FDGF-AA, PDGF-BB, PDGF-CC and PDGF-DD. The PDGF gene is highly conserved mapped to human chromosome 7p22.3. The active form of Pdgf exists as disulfide-linked dimers. It consists of cystine-knot-fold growth factor domain, which is highly conserved, except for the N-terminal prodomain, which shows variation in length among the isoforms.
The three naturally occurring PDGFs (platelet-derived growth factors); PDGF-AA, PDGF-BB and PDGF-AB, are potent mitogens for a variety of cell types including smooth muscle cells, connective tissue cells, bone and cartilage cells, and some blood cells. The PDGFs are stored in platelet α-granules and are released upon platelet activation. The PDGFs are involved in a number of biological processes, including hyperplasia, chemotaxis, embryonic neuron development, and respiratory tubule epithelial cell development. Heterozygous mutation in PDGFB is associated with primary familial brain calcification. It is also associated with angiogenesis for osteogenesis. PDGFB induces migration of endothelial progenitor cells and mesenchymal stem cells.
