| 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) |
| second growth | A second generation of timber of merchantable age. (05 Dec 1998) |
| horizontal growth phase | An early stage of development of cutaneous melanoma by intraepidermal spread of atypical melanocytes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| human growth hormone | <endocrinology> A protein produced in the pituitary gland that stimulates the liver to produce somatomedins, which stimulate growth of bone and muscle. (09 Oct 1997) |
| stem cell growth factors | <growth factor> Compounds, usually proteins, that make stem cells grow faster. (26 Mar 1998) |
| nerve growth cone | <cell biology> A specialised region at the tip of a growing neurite that is responsible for sensing the local environment and moving toward the neuron's target cell. Growth cones are hand shaped, with several long filopodia that differentially adhere to surfaces in the embryo. Growth cones can be sensitive to several guidance cues, for example: surface adhesiveness, growth factors, neurotransmitters and electric fields (galvanotropism). (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) |
| nerve growth factors | Factors which enhance the growth potentialities of sensory and sympathetic nerve cells. (12 Dec 1998) |
| new growth | <oncology, pathology> New and abnormal growth of tissue, which may be benign or cancerous. (16 Dec 1997) |
| density dependent inhibition of growth | <cell culture> The phenomenon exhibited by most normal (anchorage dependent) animal cells in culture that stop dividing once a critical cell density is reached. The critical density is considerably higher for most cells than the density at which a monolayer is formed, for this reason, most cell behaviourists prefer the term density dependent inhibition of growth as this avoids any confusion with contact inhibition of locomotion, a totally different phenomenon that is contact dependent. (12 Jan 1998) |
| differential growth | Different rates of growth in associated tissues or structures; used especially in embryology when the differences in growth rates result in changing the original proportions or relations. (05 Mar 2000) |
| insulin like growth factor | <growth factor> Insulin like growth factors I and II are polypeptides with considerable sequence similarity to insulin. They are capable of eliciting the same biological responses, including mitogenesis in cell culture. On the cell surface, there are two types of insulin like growth factor receptor, one of which closely resembles the insulin receptor (which is also present). Insulin like growth factor I = somatomedin A = somatomedin C Insulin like growth factor II = MSA (Multiplication stimulating activity). Insulin like growth factor 1 is released from the liver in response to growth hormone. Acronym: IGF (18 Nov 1997) |