Nature Cell Biology
2, 302 - 309 (2000)
Published online: 7 April 2000; | doi:10.1038/35010579
PDGF-C is a new protease-activated ligand for the PDGF  -receptor
Xuri Li1, Annica Pontén1, Karin Aase1, Linda Karlsson2, Alexandra Abramsson2, Marko Uutela3, Gudrun Bäckström4, Mats Hellström2, Hans Boström2, Hong Li1, Philippe Soriano5, Christer Betsholtz2, Carl-Henrik Heldin4, Kari Alitalo3, Arne Östman4
& Ulf Eriksson11
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Stockholm Branch,
Box 240, S-17177 Stockholm, Sweden 2
Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Göteborg,
Medicinaregatan 9A, S-41390 Göteborg, Sweden 3
Molecular/Cancer Biology Laboratory, Haartman Institute,
University of Helsinki, PO Box 21 (Haartmaninkatu 3), SF-00014 Helsinki, Finland
4
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Uppsala Branch, Box
595, S-75124 Uppsala, Sweden 5
Program in Developmental Biology, Division of Basic Sciences,
A2-025, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, PO Box 19024, Seattle, Washington
98109-1024, USA
Correspondence should be addressed to Ulf Eriksson ueri@licr.ki.sePlatelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) are important in many types of
mesenchymal cell. Here we identify a new PDGF, PDGF-C, which binds to and
activates the PDGF  -receptor. PDGF-C is activated by proteolysis and
induces proliferation of fibroblasts when overexpressed in transgenic mice.
In situ hybridization analysis in the murine embryonic kidney shows preferential
expression of PDGF-C messenger RNA in the metanephric mesenchyme during epithelial
conversion. Analysis of kidneys lacking the PDGF -receptor shows selective
loss of mesenchymal cells adjacent to sites of expression of PDGF-C mRNA;
this is not found in kidneys from animals lacking PDGF-A or both PDGF-A and
PDGF-B, indicating that PDGF-C may have a unique function.
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