The fibroblast growth factor family: multifunctional regulators of cell proliferationt‡

Abstract

Abstract Polypeptide growth factors are modulators of cellular proliferation, migration, and differentiation. These functions are thought to be mediated primarily by extracellular binding to high-affinity cell surface receptors and subsequent alterations of cellular metabolism and gene expression. The complete cascades of growth factor-induced signal transduction are not known and are likely to be different for the various growth factor families. The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family presently consists of eight structurally related polypeptides. These proteins have been referred to under many different names (Table 7.1). A variety of cell surface FGF receptors (FGFR) has also been characterized. A comprehensive review of all aspects of the FGF family is beyond the scope of any chapter. In the following we attempt to outline the most general features of this growth factor family and focus detailed discussion on the areas most directly related to the themes of this volume and those of our own research.