| CSF | cancer family syndrome; cerebrospinal fluid; cold stability factor; colony-stimulating factor; coron... |
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| DRF | Daily Rating Form; daily replacement factor; Deafness Research Foundation; dose reduction factor |
| EDF | eosinophil differentiation factor; erythroid differentiation factor; extradural fluid |
| EIF | erythrocyte initiation factor; eukaryotic initiation factor |
| FF | degree of fineness of abrasive particles; fat-free; father factor; fecal frequency; fertility factor... |
| transforming growth factor alpha | Factor isolated in a variety of tissues including epithelium, and maternal decidua. It is closely related to epidermal growth factor (epidermal growth factor-urogasterone) and binds to the egf receptor. Tgf-alpha acts synergistically with tgf-beta in inducing phenotypic transformation, but its physiological role is unknown. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| transforming growth factor beta | Factor synthesised in a wide variety of tissues including platelets, placenta, and both normal and transformed cell lines. It acts synergistically with tgf-alpha in inducing phenotypic transformation and can also act as a negative autocrine growth factor. Tgf-beta also has a potential role in embryonal development, cellular differentiation, hormone secretion, and immune function. There are at least three forms of tgf-beta: tgf-beta1, tgf-beta2, and tgf-beta1.2. The latter is a heterodimer made up of both tgf-beta1 and tgf-beta2. (12 Dec 1998) |
| transmethylation factor | <biochemistry> Esterified in the head group of phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin) and in the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Otherwise a biological source of methyl groups. (18 Nov 1997) |
| endothelial relaxing factor | A molecule functioning as a neurotransmitter and produced by activated macrophages. It is capable of killing tumour cells, parasites, and intracellular bacteria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| endothelium-derived growth factor synthase | <enzyme> Converts l-arginine to a smooth muscle relaxing factor and stimulates the formation of cyclic-GMP Registry number: EC 1.5.1.- Synonym: edrf synthase (26 Jun 1999) |
| endothelium derived relaxation factor | <biochemistry> This compound is produced from L arginine by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase. Acts as a potent vasorelaxant via elevation of intracellular cGMP in vascular smooth muscle. Synthesis of nitric oxide is not confined to endothelium, isoforms of nitric oxide synthase are also found in brain, neutrophils and platelets. Synonym: endothelium derived relaxation factor. Acronym: NO (29 Dec 1997) |
| endothelium-derived relaxing factor | A labile humoral agent released by the vascular endothelium that mediates the relaxation induced by some vasodilators such as acetylcholine and bradykinin. Edrf also inhibits platelet aggregation, induces disaggregation of aggregated platelets, and inhibits platelet adhesion to the vascular endothelium. These actions are believed to be mediated through stimulation of guanylate cyclase and the consequent elevation of cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate. Edrf is thought to be nitric oxide or a ready source of it. The factor is believed to be unstable and acts only locally in vivo. (12 Dec 1998) |
| eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis | A peptide (MW 500 to 600) that is chemotactic for eosinophilic leukocytes and is released from disrupted mast cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| epidermal growth factor | <growth factor> A mitogenic polypeptide initially isolated from male mouse submaxillary gland. The name refers to the early bioassay, but epidermal growth factor is active on a variety of cell types, especially but not exclusively epithelial. Human equivalent originally named urogastrone owing to its hormone activity. Acronym: EGF (18 Nov 1997) |
| epidermal growth factor receptor protein-tyrosine kinase | <enzyme> The catalytic protein-tyrosine kinase domain found on the cytoplasmic beta-portion of epidermal growth factor receptor. Registry number: EC 2.7.1.- (12 Dec 1998) |
| epidermal growth factor-urogastrone | <chemical> Single chain, nonhelical, acidic polypeptides of about 52 amino acids found in most mammals. Epidermal growth factor and urogastrone are not identical but seem to share biological acivities. They promote growth of, and cell proliferation in, certain tissues, especially epidermal structures and inhibit acid secretion by the stomach. They have been used to treat gastrointestinal ulcers. Chemical name: Epidermal growth factor (12 Dec 1998) |
| erythrocyte maturation factor | <biochemistry> Member of the water soluble B vitamin group, important in the proper function of the nervous system and important in proper carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. (27 Sep 1997) |
| erythroid transcription factor | <molecular biology> Transcription factor that binds to regulatory regions of genes expressed in erythroid cells. (18 Nov 1997) |
| TSH releasing factor | <endocrinology> A tripeptide produced by the hypothalamus that stimulates the anterior pituitary to release TSH. (18 Nov 1997) |
| tumor necrosis factor | <cytokine> Originally described as a tumour inhibiting factor in the blood of animals exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide or Bacille Calmette-Guerin. Preferentially kills tumour cells in vivo and in vitro, causes necrosis of certain transplanted tumours in mice and inhibits experimental metastases. Human Tumour Necrosis factor alpha is a protein of 157 amino acids and has a wide range of pro inflammatory actions. Usually considered a cytokine. Synonym: cachectin. Acronym: TNF (13 Nov 1997) |