PGF (Placental Growth Factor): Gene, Function, and Clinical Significance
A comprehensive overview of the PGF gene, its protein product, associated diseases, expression patterns, and mutations.
Gene Information Card
| Symbol | PGF |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Placental Growth Factor |
| Gene Type | protein coding |
| Chromosomal Location | 14q24.3 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 5228 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/5228 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000119630 |
| UniProt ID | P49763 |
| OMIM ID | 601121 |
| HGNC ID | 8893 |
| Aliases | PLGF, PLGF-1, PLGF-2, D12S1900, SHGC-10760 |
Description
The PGF gene encodes placental growth factor (PlGF), a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family. PlGF is a key regulator of angiogenesis, particularly in pathological conditions. It binds to VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) and its co-receptors neuropilin-1 and -2, modulating VEGF-driven signaling. PGF is expressed in multiple tissues, with highest levels in the placenta, and is involved in endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and survival. Dysregulation of PGF is implicated in preeclampsia, cardiovascular diseases, and tumor angiogenesis.
Disease Associations
| Disease category | Pathophysiological mechanism | Genomic evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Preeclampsia | Reduced placental PGF expression leads to low circulating PlGF levels, contributing to endothelial dysfunction and hypertension. | ClinVar, OMIM |
| Coronary artery disease | Polymorphisms in PGF are associated with altered risk; PlGF promotes atherosclerotic plaque neovascularization. | OMIM, NCBI |
| Cancer (various) | Overexpression of PGF in tumors enhances angiogenesis and metastasis; PlGF is a therapeutic target. | COSMIC, NCBI |
| Retinopathy of prematurity | Elevated PGF in oxygen-induced retinopathy contributes to pathological neovascularization. | OMIM |
Expression Profile
Tissue Expression
| Tissue | nTPM | level |
|---|---|---|
| Placenta | High | High |
| Lung | Low | Low |
| Heart | Low | Low |
| Kidney | Low | Low |
| Liver | Not detected | Not detected |
Cell Line Expression
| Cell Line | nTPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HUVEC (endothelial) | Low | Induced by hypoxia |
| BeWo (choriocarcinoma) | High | Placental origin |
| HeLa (cervical) | Low | Minimal expression |
| MCF7 (breast) | Low | Hormone-responsive |
Data source：Human Protein Atlas（proteinatlas.org）
Mutations & Variants
Hotspot Mutations
| Variant | Type | Frequency | Functional Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| rs2268615 | SNP | ~30% (global) | Intronic; associated with altered PGF levels in preeclampsia |
| rs2268614 | SNP | ~25% | Intronic; may affect splicing |
| c.404C>T (p.Pro135Leu) | Missense | Rare | Uncertain significance; not disease-causing per ClinVar |
Mutation functional classification
Loss of Function (LOF)
Loss-of-function mutations in PGF are rare and not well characterized; reduced PGF expression is linked to preeclampsia, but no clear pathogenic variants are listed in ClinVar.
Gain of Function (GOF)
Gain-of-function is not typical; overexpression in cancer is often due to transcriptional upregulation, not mutations.
Dominant Negative (DN)
No dominant-negative mutations reported for PGF.
View complete mutation data：
Gene Ontology (GO)
| • growth factor activity | • vascular endothelial growth factor receptor binding |
| • heparin binding | • extracellular space |
| • angiogenesis | • cell migration |
| • positive regulation of endothelial cell proliferation |
Pathways
• VEGF signaling pathway
• Angiogenesis
• HIF-1 signaling pathway
Protein Summary
Placental growth factor (PlGF) is a secreted glycosylated dimeric protein. It exists in multiple isoforms (PlGF-1, -2, -3, -4) due to alternative splicing. PlGF binds specifically to VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) and neuropilins, but not VEGFR-2. It acts as a potent angiogenic factor, especially under pathological conditions. PlGF is crucial for placental development and is implicated in endothelial cell survival and vascular remodeling. Its expression is induced by hypoxia via HIF-1α. Clinically, PlGF is a biomarker for preeclampsia and a therapeutic target in cancer and ocular neovascularization.
Related Services
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGF Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ724 | Human | 5228 | Details Get a Quote |
| PGF Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ19349 | Human | 5228 | Details Get a Quote |
| PGF Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ19350 | Human | 5228 | Details Get a Quote |
| PGF Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ54128 | Human | 5228 | Details Get a Quote |
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