Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Visualizing Angiogenesis by Multiphoton Microscopy In Vivo in Genetically Modified 3D-PLGA/nHAp Scaffold for Calvarial Critical Bone Defect Repair
09:34

Visualizing Angiogenesis by Multiphoton Microscopy In Vivo in Genetically Modified 3D-PLGA/nHAp Scaffold for Calvarial Critical Bone Defect Repair

Published on: September 7, 2017

PDGF C is a selective alpha platelet-derived growth factor receptor agonist that is highly expressed in platelet

Li Fang1, Yibing Yan, Laszlo G Komuves

  • 1Millennium Pharmaceuticals, South San Francisco, Calif 94080, USA.

Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
|April 6, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Platelet-derived growth factor C (PDGF C) preferentially binds alpha PDGF receptors and is expressed in platelets. PDGF C is secreted upon platelet activation, suggesting a role in platelet biology.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Signaling
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family comprises four members (PDGF A, B, C, D) signaling via PDGF receptor (PDGFR) tyrosine kinases.
  • PDGF C and D are newly identified members of the PDGF family.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the receptor specificity of PDGF C.
  • To investigate the cellular expression profile of PDGF C.

Main Methods:

  • Western blot analysis
  • Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
  • Immuno-gold electron microscopy
  • Microarray analysis

Main Results:

  • PDGF C growth factor domain preferentially binds and activates alpha PDGFR.
  • PDGF C activates beta PDGFR when co-expressed with alpha PDGFR via heterodimer formation.
  • PDGF C is expressed in mouse fetal tissues (mesonephric mesenchyme, skeletal muscle, cardiac myoblasts, smooth muscle) and adult human smooth muscle.
  • PDGF C is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells, renal mesangial cells, and platelets.
  • PDGF C protein is localized in platelet alpha granules and secreted upon activation as 55-kDa and 80-kDa isoforms.

Conclusions:

  • PDGF C exhibits specific binding and activation of PDGFRs.
  • PDGF C has a distinct expression pattern during development and in adult tissues, notably in smooth muscle and platelets.
  • PDGF C is present in platelets and secreted upon activation, indicating a potential role in platelet biology, similar to PDGF A and B.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Analyzing Platelet Subpopulations by Multi-color Flow Cytometry08:04

Analyzing Platelet Subpopulations by Multi-color Flow Cytometry

Published on: June 10, 2025

Mimicking the Function of Signaling Proteins: Toward Artificial Signal Transduction Therapy12:24

Mimicking the Function of Signaling Proteins: Toward Artificial Signal Transduction Therapy

Published on: September 29, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists01:23

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists

Prostacyclin receptor agonists are a class of therapeutic agents integral to managing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). These drugs operate by mimicking the action of prostaglandin I2, or PGI2, a naturally occurring compound in the body.
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho01:24

Small GTPases - Ras and Rho

Ras and Rho are small monomeric GTPases that act downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and regulate various cellular processes. These GTPases switch between active and inactive states by binding to guanine nucleotides.
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins01:22

Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins

Heterotrimeric G proteins are guanine nucleotide-binding proteins. As the name suggests, heterotrimeric G proteins are composed of three subunits: alpha, beta, and gamma. They remain GDP-bound or GTP-bound inside the cells and switch between inactive/active states. The Gα subunit possesses the nucleotide-binding pocket that binds guanine nucleotides and switches between GDP or GTP-bound states. In contrast, the Gꞵ and Gγ subunits are always bound together with high affinity and are together...
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors01:27

Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-surface receptors acting as an enzyme or associating with an enzyme intracellularly. They make excellent drug targets. Drugs can bind to the extracellular ligand-binding domain or directly affect their enzymatic domain and alter their activity.
Major types that are helpful drug targets include: