Human EGF FlowCytomix Simplex

Description: This FlowCytomix Simplex Kit is designed for the measurement of human EGF in an immunoassay analyzed on a flow cytometer. Together with the FlowCytomix Human Basic Kit (cat. BMS8420FF), this kit can be used to detect EGF alone or can be multiplexed with other Simplex Kits to measure a variety of analytes.
This kit contains bead population B5.

EGF belongs to a family of growth factors that bind to the 170 kDa EGF receptor.
The EGF receptor ligands are synthesized as type I transmembrane proteins of 130 kDa with an N-terminal extension called the EGF module and a C-terminal fragment, also known as the cytoplasmic tail. EGF comprises nine EGF motives; only the one adjacent to the cell membrane is functional as an EGF receptor-binding domain. Due to proteolytic cleavage a soluble growth factor of 6 kDa containing the EGF module is released into the extracellular space (?ectodomain shedding?).
EGF can be detected in most body fluids; the concentration is especially high in plasma, urine, saliva, and milk. Platelets as well as cells in various organs such as in brain, kidney, salivary gland, and stomach release EGF.

As a mitogen for endothelial cells EGF also affects angiogenesis and plays a role in wound healing processes. Blocking the release of EGF receptor ligands inhibits growth and migration in several EGF receptor-dependent cell lines and greatly retards wound re-epithelialization due to impaired keratinocyte migration. Overexpression of one or more receptors and/or ligands is a feature of the majority of human carcinomas and epithelial cancers.

References: Schneider,M.R.; Wolf,E.. The epidermal growth factor receptor ligands at a glance. J Cell Physiol 2009;218:460-466. (Link)

Bertrand-Duchesne,M.P.; Grenier,D.; Gagnon,G.. Epidermal growth factor released from platelet-rich plasma promotes endothelial cell proliferation in vitro. J Periodontal Res. 2009;Epub ahead:(Link)

Gullick,W.J.. The epidermal growth factor system of ligands and receptors in cancer. Eur J Cancer 2009;45 Suppl 1:205-210. (Link)

Dong,J.; Opresko,L.K.; Dempsey,P.J.; Lauffenburger,D.A.; Coffey,R.J.; Wiley,H.S.. Metalloprotease-mediated ligand release regulates autocrine signaling through the epidermal growth factor receptor. Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.U.S.A 1999;96:6235-6240. (Link)