Growth Factors — specific proteins or peptides (see peptides and oligopeptides) that can stimulate cell growth, proliferation, wound healing and/or differentiation.
Function: They typically act on specific receptors on target cells, triggering signaling pathways that promote cellular responses, such as tissue repair or development.
Mechanism: Growth factors usually function in a paracrine or autocrine manner, meaning they affect neighboring cells or the cells that secrete them.
See:
sh-Oligopeptide-1 (EGF: Epidermal Growth Factor)
sh-Oligopeptide-2 (IGF-1: Insulin-like Growth Factor 1)
sh-Polypeptide-1 (bFGF: basic Fibroblast Growth Factor)
sh-Polypeptide 9 (VEGF: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor)
sh-Polypeptide-11 (aFGF: acidic Fibroblast Growth Factor)