Connective tissue activation. XI. Stimulation of glycosaminoglycan and DNA formation by a platelet factor.

This report describes a small basic protein found in human platelets which stimulates hyaluronic acid formation, glucose uptake, and lactate formation in several types of human connective tissue cells. In addition, it stimulates in incorporation of [3H] methyl thymidine into DNA in human synovial cell cultures. This platelet factor (connective tissue activating peptide-II, CTAP-III) clearly differs form CTAP-I, found in human lymphocytes, and may play a role as a mediator of the inflammatory process.