Growth Factors are proteins that stimulate cellular growth, proliferation, and differentiation. They play fundamental roles in tissue development, wound healing, and maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Growth factors can be classified into various families based on their structure and function, including epidermal growth factors (EGF), fibroblast growth factors (FGF), insulin-like growth factors (IGF), platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF), and transforming growth factors (TGF), among others. They typically act by binding to specific cell surface receptors, triggering intracellular signaling pathways that regulate cellular responses such as cell division, migration, and gene expression.
Cytokines are a broad and diverse group of small proteins that are crucial in cell signaling. They are primarily secreted by immune cells and are essential for intercellular communication in immune responses, but they also have roles in various other biological processes, including inflammation, hematopoiesis (formation of blood cellular components), and cell differentiation. Cytokines can act locally or systemically and can have either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory effects depending on the context and the specific cytokine involved.
