PLGF Mouse Monoclonal Antibody [3G2]

Function

Placental growth factor (PlGF) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PGF gene. Placental growth factor is a member of the VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) sub-family - a key molecule in angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, in particular during embryogenesis. The main source of PlGF during pregnancy is the placental trophoblast. PGF is also expressed in many other tissues, including the villous trophoblast. The placental growth factor gene (PGF) is a protein-coding gene and a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family. PGF is expressed only in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and the placenta. PGF is ultimately associated with angiogenesis. Specifically, PGF plays a role in trophoblast growth and differentiation. Trophoblast cells, specifically extravillous trophoblast cells, are responsible for invading the uterine wall and the maternal spiral arteries. The extravillous trophoblast cells produce a blood vessel of larger diameter for the developing fetus that is independent of maternal vasoconstriction. This is essential for increased blood flow and reduced resistance. Proper development of blood vessels in the placenta is crucial for the higher blood requirement of the fetus later in pregnancy. Under normal physiologic conditions, PGF is also expressed at a low level in other organs including the heart, lung, thyroid, and skeletal muscle.

Background References

1. Rolny C et al. HRG inhibits tumor growth and metastasis by inducing macrophage polarization and vessel normalization through downregulation of PlGF. Cancer Cell 19:31-44 (2011).

2. Park J E et al. Placenta growth factor. Potentiation of vascular endothelial growth factor bioactivity, in vitro and in vivo, and high affinity binding to Flt-1 but not to Flk-1/KDR. J Biol Chem 269:25646-25654 (1994).

Sequence Similarity

Belongs to the PDGF/VEGF growth factor family.

Tissue Specificity

While the three isoforms are present in most placental tissues, PlGF-2 is specific to early (8 week) placenta and only PlGF-1 is found in the colon and mammary carcinomas.

Post-translational Modification

N-glycosylated.

Subcellular Location

Secreted.

UNIPROT

SwissProt: P49763 Human

SwissProt: P49764 Mouse

SwissProt: Q63434 Rat

Synonyms