amphiregulin


amphiregulin

A 84-residue bifunctional cell growth-modulating glycoprotein encoded by AREG on chromosome 4q13-q21, which inhibits the growth of certain tumours (e.g., epidermal cancer) and stimulates the proliferation of fibroblasts. The carboxy-terminal half of amphiregulin has considerable structural homology with epidermal growth factor and binds to its receptor.