Fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF-4), a highly mitogenic protein encoded by the k-fgf/hst oncogene, stimulates the growth of a variety of cells of mesenchymal and neuroectodermal origin. Addition of FGF-4 to human long-term bone marrow cultures increased both the cell density of the stromal layer and the number of hematopoietic colony forming cells in the cultures in a dose-dependent manner. Hema...

Acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) is a broad spectrum mitogen that is stabilized by complexation with heparin and heparan proteoglycans. The monomeric human protein contains 3 reduced cysteine residues of unknown function, the first 2 of which are conserved among all seven known fibroblast growth factors. The influence of these free sulfhydryl groups on the level, stability, and heparin de...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS We evaluated the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the healing of large traumatic tympanic membrane perforations (TMPs). STUDY DESIGN Prospective clinical study. SETTING Tertiary university hospital. METHODS A randomized, prospective analysis was performed between June 2013 and August 2014 on the treatment of trauma...

In this manuscript, we describe the potential role of the pericardial space as a drug delivery reservoir to administer angiogenic agents to the heart resulting in functionally significant angiogenesis with single bolus basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) delivery. We also describe a percutaneous subxyphoid pericardial access technique that is safe, rapid, and reliable.

AIM To obtain high-level expression of nonfusion recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor (rhbFGF). METHODS hbFGF cDNA was prepared from the total RNA of embryonic brain tissue. As a template, the obtained gene was used to clone nonfusion rhbFGF. New primers were employed to alter the translation initiation region (TIR) and reduce the G+C content through nucleotide change. Using pET-3...

The cJun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK)-signaling pathway is implicated in metabolic syndrome, including dysregulated blood glucose concentration and insulin resistance. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a target of the hepatic JNK-signaling pathway and may contribute to the regulation of glycemia. To test the role of FGF21, we established mice with selective ablation of the Fgf21 gene in hepat...

PURPOSE A successful method to subculture human lens epithelial (HLE) cells that retain their intrinsic characteristics is of great importance. This study examines the effects of four different growth factors on proliferation and differentiation in HLE cells in early subcultures. METHODS Specimens of HLE cells were obtained from infants. First- or second-passage cells were cultured in the pre...

To examine the potential role of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling during cell differentiation, we used conditionally immortalised podocyte cells isolated from kidneys of Fgf2 mutant and wild-type mice. Wild-type mouse podocyte cells upregulate FGF2 expression when differentiating in culture, as do maturing podocytes in vivo. Differentiating wild-type mouse podocyte cells undergo an epi...

OBJECTIVE Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a key regulator of the metabolic response to fasting, is highly induced by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The X-box binding protein 1 (Xbp1) is one of several ER stress proteins that has been shown to directly activate the FGF21 promoter. We aimed to determine whether hepatic Xbp1 is required for induction of hepatic FGF21 in vivo. METHODS Mi...

Human acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1) is a powerful mitogen and angiogenic factor with an apparent melting temperature (Tm) in the physiological range. FGF-1 is an example of a protein that is regulated, in part, by stability-based mechanisms. For example, the low Tm of FGF-1 has been postulated to play an important role in the unusual endoplasmic reticulum-independent secretion of this...