Description
Myeloid-Derived Growth Factor, or MYDGF, is a Bone marrow-derived monocyte protein, and it is correlated with enhanced metabolic activity, suppression of apoptosis, and stimulation of cell proliferation . MYDGF is expressed predominantly in inflammatory cells, such as monocytes and macrophages . Up-regulation of MYDGF expression was also found during adipocyte differentiation . Expression of MYDGF was induced in the circulation and heart tissue after myocardial infarction. It promotes cardiac myocyte survival by stimulating endothelial cell proliferation through a MAPK1/3-, STAT3- and CCND1-mediated signaling pathway, and inhibits cardiac myocyte apoptosis in a PI3K/AKT-dependent signaling pathway . MYDGF was found over-expressed in approximately two-thirds of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) tissues, and its expression was significantly positively correlated with that of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) .