Roles of platelet-derived growth factor in the developing and mature nervous systems

In spite of its association by history and name to platelets, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) exerts important actions in a myriad of tissues, including the nervous system. PDGF and PDGF receptors are widely expressed in neuronal and glial cells of many regions of both the central and peripheral nervous systems. In this topical review, the roles played by PDGF in the development and maintenance of the nervous system are discussed. We also discuss the modulatory effects of PDGF on synaptic transmission, its role in neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions of the central nervous system, and the neuroprotective effects of this growth factor.