Growth Factors and Receptors

Growth factors and receptors constitute a core signaling system that regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and migration. As key mediators of intercellular communication, growth factors (e.g., EGF, FGF, VEGF) initiate downstream signaling cascades by specifically binding membrane-surface or intracellular receptors, precisely directing tissue development, angiogenesis, immune regulation, and metabolic homeostasis. This system encompasses diverse molecular families such as growth factors, developmental signaling ligands, receptor tyrosine kinases, GPCRs, nuclear receptors, and other receptors, providing an important basis for understanding normal physiological processes and the mechanisms of diseases such as tumors, inflammation, and fibrosis, and offering broad intervention targets for drug development.