Description
Pleiotrophin andMidkine are structurally related heparin-binding neurotrophic factors, whoseexpression is developmentally regulated. The expression pattern of theseneurotrophic factors suggests function in neurogenesis, cell migration,secondary organogenetic induction, and mesoderm epithelial interaction. Theexpression of PTN increases during the process of brain embryogenesis andreaches maximum levels at time of birth. The physiological roles of PTN andMidkine are largely unknown, but these neurotrophins have been implicated inthe pathogenesis of neuroblastomas