Growth factors derived from human serum, platelets, and pituitary: properties and immunologic cross-reactivity.

A cationic polypeptide growth factor, isolated from human serum and purified to homogeneity, has stimulated the replication of density-inhibited BALB/c 3T3 cells. It has a molecular weight of 1.3 x 10(4) daltons and an isoelectric point of 9.7. Trypsin or chymotrypsin digestion reduces the growth-stimulatory activity by 75%, whereas 2-mercaptoehanol completely abolishes it. The growth factor is heat-stable (100 degrees C X 10 min) and free of insulin-like activity. The highly purified serum growth factor has been labeled with 125I, and an antiserum to the growth factor was produced in the rabbit. A specific, highly sensitive radioimmunoassay has been developed. Factors with growth-stimulating activity have also been detected in human platelets and human pituitary gland extracts. Platelets and pituitary glands have antigenic determinants that are recognized by antibodies to the serum growth factor. The platelet and pituitary gland growth factors are also cationic and heat stable, and are destroyed by 2-mercaptoethanol. Thus the human serum, platelet, and pituitary gland growth factors have similar properties.