Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Polyelectrolyte Complex for Heparin Binding Domain Osteogenic Growth Factor Delivery
Published on: August 22, 2016
Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor in human serum. Association with high blood cholesterol and heart hypertrophy
Elena Sánchez-Vizcaíno1, Cristina Vehí, Genís Campreciós
1Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract:
Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) belongs to the EGF family of growth factors which are ligands of the ErbB receptors. Studies in animals suggest the role of HB-EGF in several pathogenic processes such as atherosclerosis and heart hypertrophy. Here, we set up an assay to measure HB-EGF in human serum. Our ELISA determined serum HB-EGF in the range of 0.03-3 nM. It did not cross-react with EGF or with transforming growth factor-alpha. The mean serum HB-EGF was 0.26 nM (confidence interval: 0.13-0.39) in women and 0.28 nM (confidence interval: 0.09-0.47) in men. In a cohort of 121 healthy volunteers, we identified nine individuals with high serum HB-EGF (above 0.47 nM). These individuals had higher left ventricle mass (determined by Colour Doppler echocardiography) and greater total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol than control. On the basis of our results, we propose that increased serum HB-EGF is associated with heart hypertrophy and elevated blood cholesterol.
Related Concept Videos
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Role of Hematopoietic Growth Factors
Thrombopoietin (TPO), mainly released by the liver,...
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity
Two...
Drug Binding to Blood Components
HSA is the most abundant plasma protein and is vital in drug binding. It contains distinct drug-binding sites, with different drugs exhibiting affinity for specific sites. There are three main drug-binding domains for HSA: sites I, II, and III. These domains are further...
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
