Abstract
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) comprise a large family of growth factors, regulating diverse biological processes including cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Each FGF binds to a set of FGF receptors to initiate certain intracellular signaling molecules. Accumulated evidence suggests that in early development and adult state of vertebrates, FGFs also play exclusive and context dependent roles. Although FGFs have been the focus of research for therapeutic approaches in cancer, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome, in this review, we mainly focused on their role in germ layer specification and axis patterning during early vertebrate embryogenesis. We discussed the functional roles of FGFs and their interacting partners as part of the gene regulatory network for germ layer specification, dorsal–ventral (DV), and anterior-posterior (AP) patterning. Finally, we briefly reviewed the regulatory molecules and pharmacological agents discovered that may allow modulation of FGF signaling in research.
Highlights
Evidence obtained from gain-of-function/loss-of-function experiments demonstrates that proper Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs)/FGF receptors (FGFRs) function is required for correct embryonic development in vertebrates
Genetic manipulation using recombinant techniques allowed us to investigate the genetic and functional diversity of FGF/FGFR signaling in early embryogenesis and postnatal development of vertebrates
The current understanding of the gene regulatory network (GRN) in embryonic development has made great progress, and we summarized some of the data within our line of investigation for FGF signaling and its crosstalk with other signaling pathways
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. The zygote goes through several key developmental stages including mid-blastula transition (MBT), gastrulation (germ layer formation), and neurula, for establishing the overall body axis and generating the anterior CNS and posterior PNS (Figure 1). These are tightly controlled spatiotemporal events led by several signaling pathways and occur in conjunction with maternal or zygotic morphogen gradients throughout the embryos. Several lines of evidence indicate a crucial role for FGF signaling in early embryogenesis for germ layer formation [1,2] and organogenesis [6].
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