Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor (FGFR) consists extracellularly of three immunoglobulin (Ig) modules (Ig1-3). Currently, there are two competing models (symmetric and asymmetric) of the FGF-FGFR-heparin complex based on crystal structures. Indirect evidence exists in support of both models. However, it is not clear which model is physiologically relevant. Our aim was to obtain direct, n...

Objective(s): Umbilical cord blood is a good source of the mesenchymal stem cells that can be banked, expanded and used in regenerative medicine.  The objective of this study was to test whether amniotic membrane extract, as a rich source of growth factors such as basic-fibroblast growth factor, can promote the proliferation potential of the umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. Materials and ...

Neurons provide critical signals that regulate both the number and differentiation of glia. In addition, glia are attracted to and enwrap neuronal axonal processes. FGF-like signalling is thought to be one of the many potential axon-derived morphogenetic signals, however, the multiple roles of FGFs have made experimental tests of these signals difficult in vivo. In the Drosophila FGF receptor m...

objective(s): vascular calcification is one the major characteristics in patients with various types of chronic inflammatory disorders. mirnas have been shown to be involved in many normal biological functions as well as diseases; however, their role in vascular calcification has not received much attention. materials and methods: in the current study, we built a vascular calcification rat mode...

a new strategy for construction of synthetic gene encoding human basic fibroblast growth factor comprising dna annealing-ligation and augmentation by polymerase chain reaction was introduced. the sequence of the gene and corresponding amino acid chain were modified in order to increase stability of the protein. first, 300 bp and 160 bp fragments of the gene were assembled from 18 oligonucleotid...