Insight into the physiological functions of PDGF through genetic studies in mice.
Genetic analyses in mice have contributed significantly to the understanding of the physiological functions of platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and their receptors. Phenotypic analyses of gene knockouts of PDGF-A, PDGF-B, PDGF alpha-receptors (PDGFRalpha) and beta-receptors (PDGFRbeta) have shown that these ligands and receptors play major roles during embryonic development. Conditional and subtle mutations in the same genes and analysis of chimeric mice have provided additional information about the roles of these genes in postnatal development. Transgenic over-expression studies have also demonstrated that PDGF ligands are capable of inducing pathological cell proliferation in a number of different organs. The present review summarizes these findings and discusses their implications for mammalian development and disease.
Betsholtz
Christer
C
Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Göteborg, P.O. Box 440, SE 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden. christer.betsholtz@medkem.gu.se
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008954:Models, Biological; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis / Q000378:metabolism; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000502:physiology; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D008024:Ligands; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta