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Nature Cell Biology 2, 302–309 (1 May 2000) | doi:10.1038/35010579

PDGF-C is a new protease-activated ligand for the PDGF |[alpha]|-receptor

Xuri Li , Annica Pont|[eacute]|n , Karin Aase , Linda Karlsson , Alexandra Abramsson , Marko Uutela , Gudrun B|[auml]|ckstr|[ouml]|m , Mats Hellstr|[ouml]|m , Hans Bostr|[ouml]|m , Hong Li , Philippe Soriano , Christer Betsholtz , Carl-Henrik Heldin , Kari Alitalo , Arne |[Ouml]|stman & Ulf Eriksson

Platelet-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 α-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 α-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.