Placental growth factor
Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PGF gene. It is a member of the Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) sub-family - a key molecule in angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, particularly during embryogenesis. The main role of PlGF during pregnancy is to mediate the growth and development of the placenta.
Function[edit | edit source]
PlGF is a potent angiogenic factor that stimulates the growth of new blood vessels from the existing vasculature. It is essential for the physiological and pathological angiogenesis. PlGF is also involved in wound healing, inflammation, and the formation of collateral vessels in ischemic heart.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
PlGF levels are often measured in pregnant women to assess the risk of preeclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressure and damage to another organ system, most often the liver and kidneys. Low levels of PlGF can be an early indicator of preeclampsia.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
| Placental growth factor Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
