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. Released by platelets upon wounding. Expressed at high levels in the heart, pancreas, adrenal gland and ovary and at low levels in placenta, liver, kidney, prostate, testis, small intestine, spleen and colon. In the kidney, expressed by the visceral epithelial cells of the glomeruli. A widespread expression is also seen in the medial smooth muscle cells of arteries and arterioles, as well as in smooth muscle cells of vasa rectae in the medullary area. Expressed in the adventitial connective tissue surrounding the suprarenal artery. In chronic obstructive nephropathy, a persistent expression is seen in glomerular visceral epithelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells, as well as de novo expression by periglomerular interstitial cells and by some neointimal cells of atherosclerotic vessels. Expression in normal prostate is seen preferentially in the mesenchyme of the gland while expression is increased and more profuse in prostate carcinoma. Expressed in many ovarian, lung, renal and brain cancer-derived cell lines. Not detectable in the earliest stages of glomerulogenesis, and not detected in the metanephric blastema or surrounding cortical interstitial cells. In later stages of glomerulogenesis, localized to epithelial cells transitioning from the early developing nephrons of the comma- and S-shaped stages to the visceral epithelial cells of differentiated glomeruli. In the developing pelvis, expressed at the basement membrane of immature collecting ducts and by presumptive fibroblastic cells in the interstitium. 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-247 or Arg-249 by urokinase plasminogen activator gives rise to the active form. Belongs to the PDGF/VEGF growth factor family.