Glossary
Growth factors
Growth factors are signalling proteins released by platelets, and they are the reason platelet concentrates are of clinical interest. The principal ones measured in the platelet-concentrate literature are PDGF, TGF-beta, and VEGF.
Figure
A spun sample
Figure. Nearly every term in this glossary is, in the end, a fact about what happens inside this tube.
In practice
Growth-factor content does not track platelet count in a straight line. Studies on the low-speed centrifugation concept have found that reducing force raised growth-factor concentration, which means harder spinning is not simply better.
See also
- Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)PDGF, platelet-derived growth factor, is one of the principal signalling proteins released by activated platelets.
- Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta)TGF-beta, transforming growth factor beta, is a signalling protein released by platelets and one of the standard endpoints when centrifugation protocols are compared.
- Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)VEGF is a growth factor associated with the formation of new blood vessels and one of the standard endpoints when platelet concentrate protocols are compared.