title: Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor.
abstract: Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) is a 45 kDa single chain polypeptide, which stimulates the DNA synthesis and chemotaxis of endothelial cells in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo. Purification from human platelets and cDNA cloning from a human placental cDNA library, revealed that PD-ECGF is a novel type of peptide without sequence similarity to hitherto known proteins. PD-ECGF is present in human platelets and placenta, and is produced by certain normal and transformed cultured cells; it lacks a hydrophobic leader sequence and most of the protein remains inside the producer cells. Analysis of PD-ECGF produced by cultured cells, revealed that it contains nucleotide(s) covalently bound to serine residues. The in vivo function of PD-ECGF is not known; its target cell specificity and tissue distribution suggest roles in angiogenesis of the placenta and in the maintenance of the integrity of the endothelial cell layer of blood vessels. PD-ECGF may have a clinical utility in the stimulation of wound healing and re-endothelialization of vessels.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Biomedical Center, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyazono
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Usuki
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Heldin
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002892:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase