Two competing models for fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor (FGFR) dimerization have recently emerged based on ternary FGF-FGFR-heparin crystal structures. In the symmetric two-end model, heparin promotes dimerization of two FGF-FGFR complexes by stabilizing bivalent interactions of the ligand and receptor through primary and secondary sites and by stabilizing direct receptor-receptor cont...

Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions are critical for normal pancreas development. Fibroblast growth factor (Fgf)-10 is expressed in the pancreatic mesenchyme and its signalling is required for normal growth and regulation of gene expression in the pancreatic epithelium. However, little is known about putative Fgf signalling to the mesenchyme. Here we have examined the embryonic pancreas express...

AIMS AND BACKGROUND Human malignant melanoma is a very aggressive and highly angiogenesis-dependent tumor. Basic fibroblast growth factor and angiogenin are the potentially important angiogenic factors for melanoma progression and metastasis. Many studies have mainly focused on how they induce angiogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on t...

BACKGROUND Tendon injuries are common and it takes a long time for an injured tendon to heal. Adverse phenomena such as adhesion and rupture are associated with these injuries. Finding a method to reduce the time required for healing whichimproves the final outcome, will lead to decreased frequency and intensity of adverse consequences. This study was designed to investigate the effects ...

The aim of this study was to test if an extremely weak 1 GHz electromagnetic field (EMF), known to be in resonance with clusters of water molecules, has biological effects on human fibroblasts. We demonstrated that in an in vitro model of wound healing, this EMF can activate fibroblast migration. [(3)H]thymidine incorporation experiments demonstrated that the EMF could also activate fibroblast ...

BACKGROUND There is a large increase in mast cell numbers in fibrotic lung tissue, suggesting that mast cells may play a part in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Glycosaminoglycans, such as heparan sulphate, that are structurally related to heparin (a mast cell product) are part of the extracellular matrix and known to regulate cell growth. Basic fibroblast growth factor is a heparin bin...