Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-BB (PDGF-BB) is one of five dimers (PDGF-AA, AB, BB, CC, and DD) formed by 4 different PDGF subunits. In vivo, PDGF-BB is mainly produced in heart and placenta, and predominantly expressed by osteoblasts, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and glial cells. An inactive precursor of PDGF-BB is produced in the endoplasmic reticulum and then activated by a proprotein convertase after secretion. PDGF-BB functions in a paracrine manner and promotes organogenesis, human skeletal development, and wound healing. PDGF-BB also promotes angiogenesis, particularly in the presence of Fibroblast Growth Factor basic. Therefore, PDGF-BB and its related pathways are potential pharmacological targets.
Recombinant rat Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-BB (rrPDGF-BB) produced in E. coli is a disulfide-linked homodimer containing two non-glycosylated polypeptide chains of 110 amino acids each. A fully biologically active molecule, rrPDGF-BB has a molecular mass of 24.6 kDa analyzed by non-reducing SDS-PAGE and is obtained by proprietary chromatographic techniques at ExCell Bio.