Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), such as FGF-1, have been shown to induce differentiation of lens epithelial cells both in tissue culture and in transgenic mice. In the present study, using the alpha A-crystallin promoter, we generated transgenic mice that express different FGFs (FGF-4, FGF-7, FGF-8, FGF-9) specifically in the lens. All four FGFs induced changes in ocular development. Micropht...

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 is probably the most important regulator of serum phosphate and calcitriol (1,25(OH)₂D₃) levels. It is secreted by osteocytes and osteoblasts in response to oral phosphate loading or increased serum 1,25(OH)₂D₃ levels. In human chronic kidney disease (CKD), plasma FGF-23 appears to be a sensitive biomarker of abnormal renal phosphate handling, as FGF-23 levels ...

Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), a multifunctional polypeptide that affects cell growth and differentiation and becomes upregulated by stress, is expressed as AUG-initiated 18 kDa FGF-2 or CUG-initiated 21-34 kDa (hi-FGF-2) isoforms. Animal models have provided strong evidence that FGF-2 is essential for the manifestation of overload- and angiotensin-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Nevertheless...

The bek gene encodes a member of the high-affinity fibroblast growth factor receptor family. The BEK/FGFR-2 receptor is a membrane-spanning tyrosine kinase with the typical features of FGF receptors. We have cloned a murine bek cDNA and expressed it in receptor-negative Chinese hamster ovary cells and in 32D myeloid cells. The BEK receptor expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells binds acidic F...

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) have been implicated in numerous cellular processes, including proliferation, migration, differentiation, and survival. Whereas FGF-2, the prototypic ligand in a family of 22 members, activates all four tyrosine kinase FGF receptors (FGFR1-FGFR4), other members demonstrate a higher degree of selectivity. Oligodendrocytes (OLs), the myelin-producing cells of the ...

Elevated FGF-23 is a predictor of mortality and is associated with LVH in CKD. It may be a biomarker or a direct toxin. We assessed the relationship between FGF-23 and LVH in CKD using CMRI. In vitro we studied the effect of phosphate, FGF-23, and Klotho on E-selectin and VCAM production in HUVECs. FGF-23 concentration correlates negatively with eGFR and positively with LVMI. FGF-23 was an inde...

The purification of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) from bovine brain has led to the isolation of two peptides. FGF-1 with 128 amino acids and FGF-2 with 107 amino acids. The biological activity of these two peptides is acid- and heat-labile. As indicated by the amino acid composition of FGF-1 and -2, these two peptides are derived from a common precursor and bear no resemblance to pituitary...

The binding of biologically active, 125I-labeled basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) to baby hamster kidney-derived cell line cells (BHK-21) was studied at 4 degrees C. Unlabeled FGF displaced cell surface bound 125I-FGF, but platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin, or transferrin did not. Binding was saturable both as a function of time and as a function of increasing...

We examined the effect of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 on myocardial resistance to injury when administered after the onset of ischemia, in vivo and ex vivo, and the role of FGF-2 receptors and protein kinase C (PKC). FGF-2 was injected into the left ventricle of rats undergoing permanent surgical coronary occlusion leading to myocardial infarction (MI). After 24 h, FGF-2-treated hearts dis...

We previously identified Fgf-8 as a frequently activated gene in tumors from mouse mammary tumor virus-infected Wnt-1 transgenic mice, suggesting that Fgf-8 is a proto-oncogene. We further determined that multiple, secreted protein isoforms that differ at their mature amino termini are encoded by alternatively spliced mRNAs transcribed from the gene. We now present evidence that there are diffe...