Heparin-Binding EGF-Like Growth Factor
Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) may play a role in macrophage-mediated cellular proliferation. It is mitogenic for fibroblasts and smooth muscle but not for endothelial cells. It is able to bind EGF receptors with higher affinity than EGF itself and is a far more potent mitogen for smooth muscle cells than EGF. HB-EGF was originally purified from U-937 lymphoma cell line. The differential activities of HB-EGF compared to EGF may be mediated by the heparin-binding properties of the former. Transcription of HB-EGF can be induced in vascular endothelial cells as well as aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC), suggesting that HB-EGF may play a role in atherosclerosis.
Swiss-Prot Accession Number: Q99075
