Fibroblast Growth Factors: Biology, Function, and Application for Tissue Regeneration

Abstract

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) that signal through FGF receptors (FGFRs) regulate a broad spectrum of biological functions, including cellular proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation. The FGF signal pathways are the RAS/MAP kinase pathway, PI3 kinase/AKT pathway, and PLCγ pathway, among which the RAS/MAP kinase pathway is known to be predominant. Several studies have recently implicated the in vitro biological functions of FGFs for tissue regeneration. However, to obtain optimal outcomes in vivo, it is important to enhance the half-life of FGFs and their biological stability. Future applications of FGFs are expected when the biological functions of FGFs are potentiated through the appropriate use of delivery systems and scaffolds. This review will introduce the biology and cellular functions of FGFs and deal with the biomaterials based delivery systems and their current applications for the regeneration of tissues, including skin, blood vessel, muscle, adipose, tendon/ligament, cartilage, bone, tooth, and nerve tissues.

Fibroblast growth factor-1-induced ERK1/2 signaling reciprocally regulates proliferation and smooth muscle cell differentiation of ligament-derived endothelial progenitor cell-like cells

“…However, the molecular mechanisms that control the proliferation and SMC differentiation of ligament-derived EPC-like fibroblasts remain to be elucidated. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are growth factors involved in the repair and regeneration of tissues (14)(15)(16). FGFs were originally identified as a family of proteins that promote fibroblast proliferation, and 22 protein members have been identified.…”

Tissue Engineered Scaffold Modified by Bioactive Molecules for Directed Tissue Regeneration

“…Так-же высвобождение bFGF из ПГБВ/ПКЛ-матриксов с последующей активацией фибробластов привело к формированию более толстой соединительнот-канной капсулы вокруг полимерного материала по сравнению с остальными видами имплантирован-ных матриксов. Достоверное увеличение количе-ства кровеносных сосудов в тканях, окружающих матрикс с bFGF на 1-м месяце имплантации, веро-ятно, связано с участием данного ростового фак-тора в ангиогенезе только на этапе стабилизации новообразованных сосудов [21].…”

Application of Allogeneic Fibroblast Cells in Cellular Therapy of Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa

“…In the dermis, fibroblasts produce different types of collagens (I, III, and VII), elastic fibers (elastic, oxytalan), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), glycosaminoglycans, glycoproteins, and cytokine human thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) (Box 1) (14). …”