Hormone
epidermal growth factor Audio
ep·i·der·mal growth fac·tor [ eh-pih-der-mul grothe fak-ter ]
Definitions related to epidermal growth factor:
  • A 6-kDa polypeptide growth factor initially discovered in mouse submaxillary glands. Human epidermal growth factor was originally isolated from urine based on its ability to inhibit gastric secretion and called urogastrone. Epidermal growth factor exerts a wide variety of biological effects including the promotion of proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal and EPITHELIAL CELLS. It is synthesized as a transmembrane protein which can be cleaved to release a soluble active form.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • A protein made by many cells in the body and by some types of tumors. It causes cells to grow and differentiate (become more specialized). It is a type of growth factor and a type of cytokine.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Epidermal growth factor (53 aa, ~6 kDa) is encoded by the human EGF gene. This protein is involved in mitogenesis and magnesium reabsorption.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Polypeptide growth factor that exerts a wide variety of biological effects including the promotion of proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal and epithelial cells.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
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