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Background
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Human aFGF,
encoded by the FGF1 gene, is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF)
family. Fibroblast growth factor was found in pituitary extracts in 1973 and
then tested in a bioassay that caused fibroblasts to proliferate. After
further fractionating the extract using acidic and basic pH, two different
forms have isolated that named "acidic fibroblast growth factor"
(FGF-1) and "basic fibroblast growth factor" (FGF-2). Human aFGF
shares 54% amino acid sequence identity with bFGF. In mammalian FGF receptor
family has 4 members, FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3, and FGFR4, and 1, 2, 3 have 2
sub-types "b", "c". aFGF can bind and activate all 7
different FGFRs. Affinity between aFGF and its receptors can be increased by
heparin or heparan sulfate proteoglycan. aFGF plays an important role in the
regulation of cell survival, cell division, angiogenesis, cell
differentiation and cell migration. aFGF are also involved in a variety of
biological processes, including embryonic development , morphogenesis, tissue
repair, tumor growth and invasion.
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