Potent mitogen and chemoattractant for cells of mesenchymal origin. Binding of this growth factor to its affinity receptor elicits a variety of cellular responses. Appears to be involved in the three stages of wound healing: inflammation, proliferation and remodeling. Involved in fibrotic processes, in which transformation of interstitial fibroblasts into myofibroblasts plus collagen deposition occurs. Acts as a specific ligand for alpha platelet-derived growth factor receptor homodimer, and alpha and beta heterodimer. Binding to receptors induces their activation by tyrosine phosphorylation. The CUB domain has mitogenic activity in coronary artery smooth muscle cells, suggesting a role beyond the maintainance of the latency of the PDGF domain. In the nucleus, PDGFC seems to have additional function. Seems to be involved in palatogenesis.