Roles of platelet-derived growth factors and platelet-derived growth factor receptors in cardiovascular diseases

Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) both play some important roles in the cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis (AS), angiogenesis and myocardial fibrosis. PDGFRs which are activated by their ligand PDGFs up-regulate in cells, such as vascular smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts and endothelial cells, thus resulting in the proliferation and differentiation of target cells. PDGFs/PDGFRs participate in AS angiogenesis and myocardial fibrosis. This review will discuss the research progress of PDGFs/PDGFRs in the cardiovascular diseases.