Pharmacological Application of Growth Factors: Basic and Clinical
January 2015
in “
BioMed Research International
”
TLDR Growth factor treatments are increasingly used in medicine but require more research to fully understand their mechanisms.
The document discusses the pharmacological application of growth factors in both basic research and clinical settings. Growth factors, which are signaling molecules secreted at repair sites by various cell types, play a crucial role in cell growth, differentiation, proliferation, wound healing, and tissue regeneration. The editorial mentions that treatment with growth factors is becoming more prevalent, especially in plastic and reconstructive surgery, but the molecular mechanisms of such treatments are not fully understood, necessitating further research. The special issue includes eight papers from researchers in four countries, covering topics such as the potential of nerve growth factor (NGF) in treating glaucoma, the anti-tumor and antiangiogenic potential of tryptase inhibitors, the neuroprotective efficacy of neurotrophins, and the promotion of hair growth by fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). One study highlighted is by L.-J. Xiang et al., which found that FGFs can induce the anagen phase in resting hair follicles of telogenic C57BL/6 mice, suggesting potential as a hair growth-promoting agent. The issue aims to contribute to the understanding of growth factors and the development of new therapeutic drugs.
