Endocrine Pathology

, Volume 8, Issue 2, pp 121–127 | Cite as

Growth factors

Clinical Research

Abstract

Growth factors are polypeptides that interact with specific cellular receptors leading to many different biological responses. There are various families of growth factors that have similar biochemical structures. Although many growth factors stimulate, cell proliferation, a few have primarily inhibitory functions, such as transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ). Growth factors regulate various modes of action of endocrine tissues, including autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine functions. Recent studies have shown that growth factors also regulate various proteins in the cell cycle, and may have a direct or indirect effect on cell proliferation. For example, TGFβ regulates various inhibitory cell-cycle proteins, including p27kipl and p15INK4B. Molecular analyses of growth factors, including the cloning and sequencing of specific growth factor receptors, have contributed greatly to our understanding of the role these factors play in cellular homeostasis and neoplastic development.

Key Words

Growth factors cell cycle receptor transforming growth factor-β endocrine tissues pituitary 
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Copyright information

© Humana Press Inc 1997

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyMaho Clinic and Mayo FoundationRochester

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