| EF | ectopic focus; edema factor; ejection fraction; elastic fibril; electric field; elongation factor; e... |
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| PF | pair feeding; peak flow; perfusion fluid; pericardial fluid; periosteal fibroblast; peritoneal fluid... |
| GRF | gastrin-releasing factor; genetically related macrophage factor; gonadotropin-releasing factor; grow... |
| GF | gastric fistula; gastric fluid; germ-free; glass factor; glomerular filtration; gluten-free; grandfa... |
| SGF | sarcoma growth factor; skeletal growth factor |
| hepatocyte growth factor | <growth factor> Polypeptide mitogen originally shown to cause cell division in hepatocytes. In the liver, the main sources of hepatocyte growth factor are nonparenchymal cells. It is now clear that hepatocyte growth factor is a mitogen for a number of cell types and it is found in many cells outside the liver, including platelets. Hepatocyte growth factor is synthesised as a single chain precursor that is proteolytically cleaved to give a heavy chain (70 kD) and a light chain (30 kD) linked by a single disulphide bond. It contains multiple copies of the kringle domain. However, both the single chain precursor and the two chain forms of hepatocyte growth factor are biologically active and hepatocyte growth factor is generally isolated as a mixture of the two forms. Hepatocyte growth factor also alters cell motility and is now known to be identical to scatter factor. Acronym: HGF (18 Nov 1997) |
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| pro-transforming growth factor-alpha processing protease | <enzyme> Converts membrane-bound protgf-alpha to soluble tgf-alpha; mw 84 kD Registry number: EC 3.4.21.- Synonym: protgf-alpha converting enzyme, protgfalpha processing protease (26 Jun 1999) |
| schwannoma derived growth factor | <growth factor> A growth factor containing an EGF like domain, mitogenic for astrocytes, Schwann cells and fibroblasts. (18 Nov 1997) |
| nerve growth factor | <growth factor> A peptide (13.26 kD) of 118 amino acids (usually dimeric) with both chemotropic and chemotrophic properties for sympathetic and sensory neurons. Found in a variety of peripheral tissues, nerve growth factor attracts neurites to the tissues by chemotropism, where they form synapses. The successful neurons are then protected from neuronal death by continuing supplies of nerve growth factor. It is also found at exceptionally high levels in snake venom and male mouse submaxillary salivary glands, from which it is commercially extracted. Nerve growth factor was the first of a family of nerve tropic factors to be discovered. Amino acids 1-81 show homology with proinsulin. Besides its peripheral actions, nerve growth factor selectively enhances the growth of cholinergic neurons that project to the forebrain and that degenerate in Alzheimer's disease. Acronym: NGF (18 Nov 1997) |
| nerve growth factor antiserum | An antiserum containing antibodies against nerve growth factor; when injected into newborn animals the majority of sympathetic ganglion cells are permanently destroyed, resulting in hypoinnervation of peripheral tissues. Synonym: NGF antiserum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| T-cell growth factor | <cytokine> A hormone-like substance released by stimulated T lymphocytes, causes activation and differentiation of other T lymphocytes independently of antigen. A type of interleukin, a chemical messenger, a substance that can improve the body's response to disease. It stimulates the growth of certain disease-fighting blood cells in the immune system. It is secreted by Thl CD4 cells to stimulate CD8 cytotoxic T-1yrnphocytes. Interleukin 2 also increases the proliferation and maturation of the CD4 cells themselves. During HIV infection, Interleukin-2 production gradually declines. Use of interleukin 2 therapy is under study as a way to raise CD4 cell counts and restore immune function. Acronym: IL-2 (12 Dec 1998) |
| T-cell growth factor-1 | <cytokine> A hormone-like substance released by stimulated T lymphocytes, causes activation and differentiation of other T lymphocytes independently of antigen. A type of interleukin, a chemical messenger, a substance that can improve the body's response to disease. It stimulates the growth of certain disease-fighting blood cells in the immune system. It is secreted by Thl CD4 cells to stimulate CD8 cytotoxic T-1yrnphocytes. Interleukin 2 also increases the proliferation and maturation of the CD4 cells themselves. During HIV infection, Interleukin-2 production gradually declines. Use of interleukin 2 therapy is under study as a way to raise CD4 cell counts and restore immune function. Acronym: IL-2 (12 Dec 1998) |
| T-cell growth factor-2 | <cytokine> A soluble cytokine factor produced by activated T-lymphocytes that promotes antibody production by causing proliferation and differentiation of B-cells. Interleukin-4 induces the expression of class II major histocompatibility complex and fc receptors on B-cells. It also acts on T-lymphocytes, mast cell lines, and several other haematopoietic lineage cells including granulocyte, megakaryocyte, and erythroid precursors, as well as macrophages. Acronym: IL-4 (12 Dec 1998) |
| transforming growth factor | <growth factor> Proteins secreted by transformed cells that can stimulate growth of normal cells. Unfortunate misnomer, since they induce aspects of transformed phenotype, such as growth in semi solid agar, but do not actually transform. Transforming growth factor alpha, 50 amino acid polypeptide originally isolated from viral transformed rodent cells, contains EGF like domain and binds to EGF receptor. Stimulates growth of microvascular endothelial cells, i.e. Is angiogenic. Transforming growth factor beta a homodimer of two 112 chains, polypeptide is secreted by many different cell types, stimulates wound healing but in vitro is also a growth inhibitor for certain cell types. The transforming growth factor family includes many of the bone morphogenetic proteins. Acronym: TGF (18 Nov 1997) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |
| 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) |