title: [Growth factors: a pluripotent and misnamed family].
abstract: Growth factors are a family of polypeptides with a major physiological role. They were first described for their mitogenic activity. However, these peptides have a wide spectrum of biological actions which include the regulation of tissue morphology, differentiation, movement and functional activity. They act via an autocrine or paracrine mechanism. They are characterized by their binding to specific receptors at the membrane level. Some of these receptors possess a kinase activity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorie de physiopathologie du développement, Ecole normale supérieure, Paris.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Evain-Brion
mesh_terms: D006133:Growth Substances / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor
vernacular_title: Les facteurs de croissance: une famille pluripotente et mal nommée.