Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) control many cellular processes and have been implicated in the regulation of left-right (LR) development by as yet unknown mechanisms. Using lineage-targeted knockdowns, we found that the transmembrane HSPG Syndecan 2 (Sdc2) regulates LR patterning through cell-autonomous functions in the zebrafish ciliated organ of asymmetry, Kupffer's vesicle (KV), inclu...

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2), an important modulator of cartilage and bone growth and differentiation, is expressed and regulated in osteoblastic cells. To investigate the role of FGF-2 in bone, we examined mice with a disruption of the Fgf2 gene. Measurement of trabecular bone architecture of the femoral metaphysis of Fgf2(+/+) and Fgf2(-/-) adult mice by micro-CT revealed that the p...

An essential aspect of stem cell culture is the successful maintenance of the undifferentiated state. Many types of stem cells are FGF2 dependent, and pluripotent stem cells are maintained by replacing FGF2-containing media daily, while tissue-specific stem cells are typically fed every 3rd day. Frequent feeding, however, results in significant variation in growth factor levels due to FGF2 inst...

Ischaemia-reperfusion injury (I/RI) is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). The molecular basis underlying I/RI-induced renal pathogenesis and measures to prevent or reverse this pathologic process remains to be resolved. Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) is reported to have protective roles of myocardial infarction as well as in several other I/R related disorders. Herein we presen...

5'-O-Tritylinosine (KIN59) is an allosteric inhibitor of the angiogenic enzyme thymidine phosphorylase. Previous observations showed the capacity of KIN59 to abrogate thymidine phosphorylase-induced as well as developmental angiogenesis in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Here, we show that KIN59 also inhibits the angiogenic response triggered by fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF...

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) belongs to the family of the heparin-binding growth factors (Basilico and Moscatelli, 1992). The single copy human FGF2 gene encodes multiple FGF2 isoforms with Mr ranging from 24,000 to 18,000 (Florkiewicz and Sommer, 1989). FGF2 isoforms are angiogenic in vivo and induce cell proliferation, protease production and chemotaxis in endothelial cells in vitro ...

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) activates the extracellular signal–regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) through its specific receptors. Interaction of FGF2 with cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans has also been suggested to induce intracellular signals. Thus, we investigated whether FGF2 can stimulate ERK1/2 activation through heparan sulfate proteoglycans using mechanisms that do not de...

Basic fibroblast growth factor (Fgf2) is required for the generation of founder cells within the dorsal pseudostratified ventricular epithelium, which will generate the cerebral cortex, but the ganglionic eminences are not affected. We report here that the Fgf2 null mutant mice show an approximately 40% decrease in cortical glutamatergic pyramidal neurons. In contrast, no change in pyramidal or...

Enhancing the maturity of the newly formed blood vessels is critical for the success of therapeutic angiogenesis. The maturation of vasculature relies on active participation of mural cells to stabilize endothelium and a basal level of relevant growth factors. We set out to design and successfully achieved robust angiogenesis using an injectable polyvalent coacervate of a polycation, heparin, a...

Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), a member of the FGF family, positively regulates bone formation and osteoblast differentiation. Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is highly expressed during early bone formation and may play a role in primary mineralization of bone. In the present study, FGF2 (10 ng/mL) was found to increase the levels of Runx2 and BSP mRNA at 3 and 12 h in human osteoblast-like Saos2 c...