Growth factors, hormones, cytokines and chemokines
Growth factors are small glycoproteins both made and used by all animal cells to communicate with other cells and regulate themselves. Growth factors provide constant feedback to nearby and distant cells, modulating cell behaviour. In research labs, recombinant growth factors are widely used for cell culture. Growth factors such as EPO, BMP-2 and IL-2 are used clinically and novel therapeutics for diseases such as Parkinson’s, osteoarthritis and cancer are in development.
