The four types PDGFs and their domain compositions

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is one of the numerous growth factors regulate cell growth and division. In particular, it plays a significant role in blood vessel formation (angiogenesis). Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, plays a key role in many physiological and pathological processes, such as ovulation, embryogenesis, wound repair, inflammation, malignant tumor growth, retinopathies, rheumatoid arthritis, and angiogenesis-dependent diseases. Uncontrolled angiogenesis is a characteristic of cancer. The PDGF family consists of PDGF-A, -B, -C and -D, which form either homo- or heterodimers (PDGF-AA, -AB, -BB, -CC, -DD). The four PDGFs are inactive in their monomeric forms.

The starting numbers of specific domains/segments in the coding sequences are marked above the boundaries. Shown are all numbers for human PDGFs. The proprotein convertase-recognition sequences are indicated and positions of cleavage are marked with a black triangle. Abbreviations used: SP: signal peptide; PRO: the pro-sequence preceding the growth factor domain; Cys-Knot, the cysteine-knot growth factor domain that is responsible for receptor recognition; CUB, the complement subcomponents C1r/C1s, urchin EGF-like protein, and bone marrow protein 1-like domain, which can be considered as part of the pro-sequence in PDGF-C and PDGF-D, but PDGF-C and PDGF-D also have sequences homologous to the PDGF-A and PDGF-B pro-sequences.

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