Growth factor that plays an essential role in the regulation of embryonic development, cell proliferation, cell migration, survival and chemotaxis. Potent mitogen for cells of mesenchymal origin. Plays an important role in wound healing. Induces macrophage recruitment, increased interstitial pressure, and blood vessel maturation during angiogenesis. Can initiate events that lead to a mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, including influx of monocytes and macrophages and production of extracellular matrix (By similarity). Homodimer; disulfide-linked. Interacts with PDGFRB homodimers, and with heterodimers formed by PDGFRA and PDGFRB (By similarity). Released by platelets upon wounding. Activated by proteolytic cleavage. Proteolytic removal of the N-terminal CUB domain releasing the core domain is necessary for unmasking the receptor-binding epitopes of the core domain. Cleavage after Arg-191 or Arg-193 by urokinase plasminogen activator gives rise to the active form (By similarity). Belongs to the PDGF/VEGF growth factor family.