Proliferator

Proliferator is a term used to refer to an agent that promotes proliferation—the increase in number or growth of cells, organisms, or activities. In biology, proliferators stimulate cell division and tissue growth. They include mitogens, growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), cytokines, and certain hormones. Proliferators act by triggering signaling pathways (for example MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT) that advance cells from the G1 phase to the S phase of the cell cycle. Proliferation is a normal part of development and tissue repair but can be maladaptive in cancer when cells divide uncontrollably. Researchers measure proliferation with assays such as thymidine incorporation, BrdU labeling, and Ki-67 staining.

Clinical relevance: In wound healing and tissue engineering, controlled proliferators support regeneration; in cancer, anti-proliferative therapies aim to block aberrant proliferators. Understanding proliferators helps in diagnosing and treating conditions where cell growth is desirable or harmful, and in developing drugs that either enhance or restrain proliferation as needed.

In international relations, the term proliferator is used for states or nonstate actors seeking to spread or acquire weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons. Nuclear proliferators are subject to nonproliferation treaties, export controls, and sanctions. The concept is central to policy discussions about arms control, security, and global stability.