Pigment epithelial-derived factor: a new player in dermal elastic fibre calcification?

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is an endogenously produced glycoprotein expressed in several organs during developmental stages and adulthood mainly acting on cell differentiation.(1) In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that PEDF has neurotrophic and antioxidant activities as well as the ability to counteract angiogenesis, tumorigenesis, atherosclerosis, thrombosis and inflammation.(1,2) In addition, PEDF has been also related to bone metabolism, increasing alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression and promoting osteoblast differentiation.(3) This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved