Growth factor that plays an essential role in the regulation of embryonic development, cell proliferation, cell migration, survival and chemotaxis. Potent mitogen and chemoattractant for cells of mesenchymal origin. Required for normal skeleton formation during embryonic development. Required for normal skin morphogenesis during embryonic development. Plays an important role in wound healing, in angiogenesis and blood vessel development (By similarity). Homodimer; disulfide-linked. Interacts with PDGFRA homodimers, and with heterodimers formed by PDGFRA and PDGFRB (By similarity). 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 basic residues in the hinge region (region connecting the CUB and growth factor domains) gives rise to the receptor-binding form (By similarity). Belongs to the PDGF/VEGF growth factor family.