Description
Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a heparin-binding growth factor that has mitogenic effects on fibroblast, epithelial, and endothelial cells. PTN is made by many tissues, but is predominantly secreted by nervous tissue during development. PTN induces neurite outgrowth and is involved in tumor growth and metastasis. PTN binds with low affinity to the cell surface receptor nucleolin to inhibit HIV-1 infection. PNT also binds the receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase type Z (PTPRZ), syndecan-3, and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) receptors