" growth factor "

[Noun]  | "growth factor" 

1: a substance (such as a vitamin B12 or an interleukin) that promotes growth and especially cellular growth

Origin: 1926 ;

[Noun]  | "epidermal growth factor" 

1: a polypeptide hormone that stimulates cell proliferation

Origin: 1966 ;

[Noun]  | "fibroblast growth factor" 

1: any of several protein growth factors that stimulate the proliferation especially of endothelial cells and that promote angiogenesis

Origin: 1974 ;

[Noun]  | "in*su*lin-like growth factor" | \ ˈin(t)-s(ə-)lən-ˈlīk- \

1: either of two polypeptides structurally similar to insulin that are secreted either during fetal development or during childhood and that mediate growth hormone activity

Origin: 1976 ;

[Noun]  | "nerve growth factor" 

1: a protein that promotes development of the sensory and sympathetic nervous systems and is required for maintenance of sympathetic neurons

Origin: 1958 ;