Platelet Derived Growth Factor AB (PDGFAB)

Two types of PDGFRs have been identified: alpha type and beta type PDGFRs. The alpha type binds to PDGF-AA, PDGF-BB and PDGF-AB while the beta type PDGFR binds with high affinity to PDGF-BB and PDGF-AB. Upon activation by PDGF, these receptors dimerise, and are "switched on" by auto-phosphorylation of several sites on their cytosolic domains, which serve to mediate binding of cofactors and subsequently activate signal transduction, for example, through the PI3K pathway.  The different ligand isoforms have variable affinities for the receptor isoforms, and the receptor isoforms may variably form hetero- or homo- dimers. This leads to specificity of downstream signalling. It has been shown that the cis oncogene is derived from the PDGF B-chain gene. PDGF-BB is the highest-affinity ligand for the PDGFR-beta; PDGFR-beta is a key marker of hepatic stellate cell activation in the process of fibrogenesis.