Uses
Fibroblast growth factor-basic (FGF-Basic) is required for the maintenance of human embryonic stem cells in culture, and various other stem cell lines, such as mesenchymal stem (stroma) cells (MSC).
General Description
Fibroblast growth factor-basic (FGF-Basic) is found in basement membranes and sub-endothelial extracellular matrix. FGF-Basic is induced early in the development of the embryo where it is necessary (but not sufficient) for pluripotency and self-renewal of embryonic stem cells (ESC) and lineage defined stem cells; wherein it functions to support proliferation and inhibit differentiation. Self-renewal of hESC depends upon activation of the Activin/Nodal/Smad2,3 branch and suppression of the BMP/GDF/Smad5 branch of the TGFβ-family cell signaling program. FGF-Basic is a competence factor for Nodal support of pluripotency. Activin-A is necessary and sufficient to maintain stemness. It induces the expression of both Nodal and FGF-Basic in human ES cells.
Biochem/physiol Actions
FGF2 (fibroblast growth factor 2, also referred to as BFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor)) interacts with FGFR1 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 1), FGFR2 and FGFR3. It stimulates the proliferation of a wide variety of cells including mesenchymal, neuroectodermal and endothelial cells. FGF2 also determines the fate of neural precursor cells and promotes neuronal axon regeneration. It plays an important role in spinal cord injury repair. FGF2 is known to stimulate angiogenesis and is associated with cancer development. High levels of FGF2 are present in the kidney of children with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)-renal diseases. The FGF2 mRNA is a target of miRNA miR-503.
Description
Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 Human Recombinant (FGF-2) produced in E.Coli is a single, non-glycosylated, polypeptide chain containing 154 amino acids and having a molecular mass of 17.2kDa.
The FGF-b is purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.
Background
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 embryonic 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 mitogen 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 HPR -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.
