Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor is a member of the fibroblast growth factor
(FGF) family. FGF family members possess broad mitogenic and cell survival
activities, and are involved in a variety of biological processes, including em
-bryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor
growth and invasion. This protein functions as a modifier of endothelial cell
migration and proliferation, as well as an angiogenic factor. It acts as a mito
-gen for a variety of mesoderm- and neuroectoderm-derived cells in vitro,
thus is thought to be involved in organogenesis. Three alternatively spliced
variants encoding different isoforms have been described. The heparin-binding
growth factors are angiogenic agents in vivo and are potent mitogens for a
variety of cell types in vitro. There are differences in the tissue distribution
and concentration of these 2 growth factors.
