Developmentally regulated production of platelet-derived growth factor-like molecules

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Abstract
Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is thought to mediate the proliferation of smooth muscle cells in injured arteries, and may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis1. PDGF-like molecules from non-platelet sources may also play a role in the regulation of cell activity in other circumstances. Transformation of cells by a wide range of oncongenic agents appears to activate a cellular gene encoding a PDGF-like molecule2–6, possibly accounting for the ability of transformed cells to grow without addition of exogenous mitogens7–12. We show here that a molecule (PDGF-c) which can compete with 125I-PDGF for binding to PDGF receptors is secreted by cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells (rASMC) isolated from 13 to 18-day-old rats (pups) but not from three-month-old animals (adults). Thus, production of PDGF-c appears to be developmentally regulated and may be a factor in the more rapid proliferation of rASMC and synthesis of connective tissue components which occurs during growth of the aorta in vivo.