Amphiregulin, Human

Amphiregulin is a member of the EGF family of cytokines, which comprises at least ten proteins including EGF, TGF-alpha, HB-EGF, Epiregulin, Tomoregulin, Neuregulins and the various heregulins. Through the EGF/TGF-alpha receptor, it stimulates growth of keratinocytes, epithelial cells and some fibroblasts. Amphiregulin also inhibits the growth of certain carcinoma cell lines. Synthesized as a transmembrane protein, Amphiregulin's extracellular domain is proteolytically processed to release the mature protein.