Family of growth factors with mitogenic properties for fibroblasts and mesoderm‐derived cell types. They have important roles in angiogenesis, neurogenesis, wound healing, and tumor growth. In humans, more than 20 proteins have been identified as members of the FGF family. FGF‐2, or basic FGF (bFGF), has been the most studied member of the FGF family for therapeutic purposes in regenerative treatments, notably soft tissue healing.
First described in the mid- 1970s by Dr. Gospodarowicz and fellow researchers at the University of California, San Francisco. It is a protein that stimulates the formation/development of blood vessels and fibroblasts (precursors to collagen, the connective tissue “glue” that holds cells together). FGF also is mitogenic (causes cells to divide and multiply) for both fibroblasts and endothelial cells, and attracts those two cell types (i.e., is chemotactic). Dr. Gospodarowicz named the FGF originally derived from bovine (cow) brain tissue to be Acidic FGF. Dr. Gospodarowicz named the FGF originally derived from bovine pituitary tissue to be Basic FGF. This was due to their identical biological activity, but differing isoelectric points (i.e., the former being acidic, and the latter being basic). Basic FGF is, however, ten times more “potenf’ than acidic FGF in most bioassays.
Polypeptides that stimulate wound healing, new blood vessel growth, and skeletal muscle development. Overactivity of these factors has been associated with neoplasia.