Basic fibroblast growth factor

Basic fibroblast growth factor, also known as bFGF, FGF2 or FGF-β, is a member of the is_associated_with::fibroblast growth factor family.

Function
In normal tissue, basic fibroblast growth factor is present in is_associated_with::basement membranes and in the subendothelial is_associated_with::extracellular matrix of is_associated_with::blood vessels. It stays membrane-bound as long as there is no is_associated_with::signal peptide.

It has been hypothesized that, during both is_associated_with::wound healing of normal tissues and is_associated_with::tumor development, the action of is_associated_with::heparan sulfate-degrading is_associated_with::enzymes activates bFGF, thus mediating the formation of new is_associated_with::blood vessels, a process known as is_associated_with::angiogenesis.

In addition, it is synthesized and secreted by human is_associated_with::adipocytes and the concentration of bFGF correlates with the BMI in blood samples. In this study, bFGF was also shown to act on is_associated_with::preosteoblasts – in the form of an increased proliferation – after binding to is_associated_with::fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 and activating is_associated_with::phosphoinositide 3-kinase.

bFGF has been shown in preliminary animal studies to protect the heart from injury associated with a heart attack, reducing tissue death and promoting improved function after reperfusion.

Recent evidence has shown that low levels of FGF2 play a key role in the incidence of excessive anxiety.

Additionally, bFGF is a critical component of human is_associated_with::embryonic stem cell culture medium; the growth factor is necessary for the cells to remain in an undifferentiated state, although the mechanisms by which it does this are poorly defined. It has been demonstrated to induce gremlin expression which in turn is known to inhibit the induction of differentiation by is_associated_with::bone morphogenetic proteins. It is necessary in mouse-feeder cell dependent culture systems, as well as in feeder and serum-free culture systems. FGF2, in conjunction with BMP4, promote differentiation of stem cells to mesodermal lineages. After differentiation, BMP4 and FGF2 treated cells generally produces higher amounts of osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation than untreated stem cells.

Interactions
Basic fibroblast growth factor has been shown to interact with is_associated_with::casein kinase 2, alpha 1, is_associated_with::RPL6 and is_associated_with::ribosomal protein S19.