Growth regulatory proteins from human platelets

Abstract

Platelets contain many different growth regulatory proteins. This communication describes two of these factors, platelet-derived growth factor, a major mitogen for connective tissue cells, and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor, an endothelial cell mitogen with angiogenic properties in vivo. In addition, the structural and functional properties of the latent, high Mr complex of transforming growth factor-beta 1, a factor that inhibits growth of most cells, is described.