Thomas Mustoe | Nov 27, 1988 | 4 min read
The fundamental role of polypeptide growth factors in stimulating the proliferation of cells and in regulating cell growth (both positively and negatively) has been increasingly appreciated in the last several years (see The Scientist, October 31, page 13). The first growth factor to be discovered—nerve growth factor, in 1951—was initially thought to be an isolated phenomenon. But over the last decade, several other growth factors have been characterized. The study of growth factors