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Dermatan sulfate binds and potentiates activity of keratinocyte growth factor (FGF-7).

FGF-7 is induced after injury and induces the proliferation of keratinocytes. Like most members of the FGF family, the activity of FGF-7 is strongly influenced by binding to heparin, but this glycosaminoglycan is absent on keratinocyte cell surfaces and minimally present in the wound environment. In this investigation we compared the relative activity of heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate B (dermatan sulfate), glycosaminoglycans that are present in wounds. A lymphoid cell line (BaF/KGFR) containing the FGF-7 receptor (FGFR2 IIIb) was treated with FGF-7 and with various glycosaminoglycans. FGF-7 did not support cell proliferation in the absence of glycosaminoglycan or with addition of heparan sulfate or chondroitin sulfate A/C but did stimulate BaF/KGFR division in the presence of dermatan sulfate or highly sulfated low molecular weight fractions of dermatan. Dermatan sulfate also enabled FGF-7-dependent phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and promoted binding of radiolabeled FGF-7 to FGFR2 IIIb. In addition, dermatan sulfate and FGF-7 stimulated growth of normal keratinocytes in culture. Thus, dermatan sulfate, the predominant glycosaminoglycan in skin, is the principle cofactor for FGF-7.

Animals↗

SOX7 and GATA-4 are competitive activators of Fgf-3 transcription.

Fgf-3 is expressed in a dynamic and complex spatiotemporal pattern during mouse development. Previous studies identified GATA-4 as a transcription factor that binds the key regulatory element PS4A of the Fgf-3 promoter and stimulates transcription. Here we show that members of the SOX family of transcription factors also bind PS4A and differentially modulate transcription. At least five SOX genes, Sox2, Sox6, Sox7, Sox13, and Sox17, were expressed in F9 cells, and of these, Sox7 and Sox17 were dramatically induced in parallel with Fgf-3 following differentiation into parietal endoderm-like cells with retinoic acid and dibutyryl cAMP. Complexes could be detected on PS4A with SOX2, SOX7, and SOX17 by using nuclear extracts from differentiated F9 cells. However, only Sox7 expression markedly activated the Fgf-3 promoter in these cells. By contrast, SOX2 was a poor activator of Fgf-3 transcription, and when Sox2 was coexpressed with Gata4, it negatively modulated the strong activation mediated by GATA-4. More detailed analyses showed that SOX7 competes with GATA-4 for PS4A occupancy and to activate the Fgf-3 promoter. In situ hybridization analysis showed that Sox7 is co-expressed with Fgf-3 and Gata4 in the parietal endoderm of E7.5 mouse embryos. In culture, GATA-4-deficient embryonal stem cells were shown to express Fgf-3 upon differentiation into embryoid bodies, although at lower levels than were found in wild type embryonal stem cells. This Fgf-3 expression was virtually abolished when Sox7 expression was suppressed by RNA interference. These results show that SOX7 is a potent activator of Fgf-3 transcription.

Animals↗

FGF signaling targets the pRb-related p107 and p130 proteins to induce chondrocyte growth arrest.

Unregulated FGF signaling affects endochondral ossification and long bone growth, causing several genetic forms of human dwarfism. One major mechanism by which FGFs regulate endochondral bone growth is through their inhibitory effect on chondrocyte proliferation. Because mice with targeted mutations of the retinoblastoma (Rb)-related proteins p107 and p130 present severe endochondral bone defects with excessive chondrocyte proliferation, we have investigated the role of the Rb family of cell cycle regulators in the FGF response. Using a chondrocyte cell line, we found that FGF induced a rapid dephosphorylation of all three proteins of the Rb family (pRb, p107, and p130) and a blockade of the cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. This cell cycle block was reversed by inactivation of Rb proteins with viral oncoproteins such as polyoma large T (PyLT) antigen and Adenovirus E1A. Expression of a PyLT mutant that efficiently binds pRb, but not p107 and p130, allowed the cells to be growth inhibited by FGF, suggesting that pRb itself is not involved in the FGF response. To investigate more precisely the role of the individual Rb family proteins in FGF-mediated growth inhibition, we used chondrocyte micromass culture of limb bud cells isolated from mice lacking Rb proteins individually or in combination. Although wild-type as well as Rb-/- chondrocytes were similarly growth inhibited by FGF, chondrocytes null for p107 and p130 did not respond to FGF. Furthermore, FGF treatment of metatarsal bone rudiments obtained from p107-/-;p130-/- embryos failed to inhibit proliferation of growth plate chondrocytes, whereas rudiments from p107-null or p130-null embryos showed only a slight inhibition of growth. Our findings indicate that p107 and p130, but not pRb, are critical effectors of FGF-mediated growth inhibition in chondrocytes.

Animals↗

Apomorphine-induced activation of dopamine receptors modulates FGF-2 expression in astrocytic cultures and promotes survival of dopaminergic neurons.

Apomorphine (APO), a potent D1/D2 dopamine receptor agonist, is currently used as an antiparkinsonian drug. We have shown previously that APO stimulates synthesis and release of multiple trophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), in both mesencephalic and striatal neurons, thereby effectively preventing dopaminergic neuron loss in vitro. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of APO on fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) expression and regulation in astrocytes, and furthermore, to identify signaling mechanisms underlying these effects. Here, we show that FGF-2 expression is robustly induced in cultured astrocytes in response to APO. FGF-2 expression was proportional to APO concentration and time-dependent. Conversely, treatment with S-APO, a derivative of R-APO lacking DA receptor agonist activity, did not alter FGF-2 levels. APO treatment resulted in enhanced cytosol FGF-2 immunoreactivity, export of high MW forms of FGF-2 to the cytoplasm from the nucleus and increased extracellular release of FGF-2. Interestingly, both high and low MW forms of FGF-2 were detectable in conditioned medium of APO-treated cultures. This APO-induced effect was correlated with activation of D1 and D2 receptors, as it could be either mimicked by dopamine receptor agonists (SKF38393, quinpirole) or partially blocked by antagonists (SCH23390, SKF83566, haloperidol). Activation of the D1 receptor preferentially increased PKA activity, whereas activation of the D2 receptor only promoted phosphorylation of MAPK. Importantly, APO-modulated FGF-2 expression was independent of Akt/phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling. These data suggest that APO can enhance biosynthesis and release of FGF-2 through activation of dopamine receptors in striatal astrocytes. Both cAMP/PKA and MEK/MAPK signaling cascades are major steps mediating this process.

Animals↗

Fgf-10 is required for both limb and lung development and exhibits striking functional similarity to Drosophila branchless.

Fgf-10-deficient mice (Fgf-10(-/-)) were generated to determine the role(s) of Fgf-10 in vertebrate development. Limb bud initiation was abolished in Fgf-10(-/-) mice. Strikingly, Fgf-10(-/-) fetuses continued to develop until birth, despite the complete absence of both fore- and hindlimbs. Fgf-10 is necessary for apical ectodermal ridge (AER) formation and acts epistatically upstream of Fgf-8, the earliest known AER marker in mice. Fgf-10(-/-) mice exhibited perinatal lethality associated with complete absence of lungs. Although tracheal development was normal, main-stem bronchial formation, as well as all subsequent pulmonary branching morphogenesis, was completely disrupted. The pulmonary phenotype of Fgf-10(-/-) mice is strikingly similar to that of the Drosophila mutant branchless, an Fgf homolog.

Animals↗

Pretreatment serum FGF-23 levels predict the efficacy of calcitriol therapy in dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: The predictor for the result of calcitriol therapy would be useful in the clinical practice of secondary hyperparathyroidism. Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) is a newly found circulating phosphaturic factor. Its circulating level is elevated in uremia. METHODS: Dialysis patients with plasma intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels greater than 300 pg/mL were included in the study. Calcitriol was intravenously injected three times a week. The patients whose plasma iPTH levels dropped below 300 pg/mL within 24 weeks were defined as those who had been successfully treated. A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system that detects human FGF-23 was applied. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients were analyzed. The pretreatment FGF-23 levels were related to the iPTH levels, calcium x phosphate product levels, and history of active vitamin D therapy. The pretreatment FGF-23, iPTH, and calcium levels were lower in the patients who would be successfully treated with calcitriol. A logistic regression study revealed that the pretreatment iPTH and FGF-23 levels significantly affected the therapy results. Analyses using a receiver-operated curve revealed that FGF-23 was the best screening test for identifying patients with future refractory response to calcitriol therapy. The treatment would be successful in 88.2% of those with FGF-23 </=9860 ng/L and iPTH </=591 pg/mL, while it would be successful in only 4.2% of those with FGF-23 >9860 ng/L and iPTH >591 pg/mL. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment serum FGF-23 levels were a good indicator in predicting the response to calcitriol therapy. The measurement of serum FGF-23 levels, especially in combination with iPTH levels, is a promising laboratory examination for the clinical practice of secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Calcitriol↗

Expression of the K-fgf proto-oncogene is controlled by 3' regulatory elements which are specific for embryonal carcinoma cells.

Expression of the K-fgf/hst proto-oncogene appears to be restricted to cells in the early stages of development, such as embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells. When EC cells are induced to differentiate, K-fgf expression is drastically repressed. To identify cis-acting DNA elements responsible for this type of regulation, we constructed a plasmid in which cat gene expression was driven by about 1 kilobase of upstream K-fgf human DNA sequences, including the putative promoter, and transfected it into undifferentiated F9 EC cells or HeLa cells as prototypes of cells which express or do not express, respectively, the K-fgf proto-oncogene. This plasmid was essentially inactive in both cell types, and the addition of more than 8 kilobases of DNA sequences upstream of the K-fgf promoter did not lead to any increase in chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) expression. On the other hand, when we inserted in this plasmid DNA sequences which are 3' of the human K-fgf coding sequences, we could detect a significant stimulation of CAT activity. Analysis of these sequences led to the identification of enhancerlike DNA elements which are part of the 3' noncoding region of K-fgf exon 3 and promote CAT expression only in undifferentiated mouse F9 or human NT2/D1 EC cells, but not in HeLa, 3T3, or differentiated F9 cells, therefore mimicking the physiological expression of the K-fgf proto-oncogene. Similar elements are also present in the 3' region of the murine K-fgf proto-oncogene, in a region showing high homology to the human K-fgf sequences. These regulatory elements can promote CAT expression from heterologous promoters in an EC-specific manner, suggesting that they interact with a specific cellular transacting protein(s) whose expression is developmentally regulated.

Animals↗

Epithelial expression and release of FGF-2 from heparan sulphate binding sites in bronchial tissue in asthma.

BACKGROUND: The most characteristic structural change evident in endobronchial biopsies in asthma, even in mild disease, is subepithelial collagen deposition within the lamina reticularis. This has been associated with progressive loss of lung function and the persistence of airway hyperresponsiveness, and has been linked to airway fibroblast proliferation. A potent fibroproliferative factor in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in asthma is fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2). FGF-2 is a member of a family of heparin binding growth factors that bind to heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPG), an important determinant of FGF-2 activity. This study compared the level of expression and distribution of FGF-2 in relation to HSPG in bronchial tissue from normal and asthmatic subjects. METHODS: The distribution of FGF-2 and HSPG in intact and cleaved forms in endobronchial biopsies from normal and asthmatic subjects was examined using an immunohistochemical approach. A novel ELISA based method was developed to detect solubilisation of FGF-2 following addition of heparin and heparitinase to bronchial tissue slices. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis showed that FGF-2 was co-localised to HSPG in epithelial and endothelial basement membranes. Epithelial FGF-2, but not HSPG, was significantly more abundant in patients with mild asthma than in normal subjects. In vitro experiments indicated that FGF-2 was released from binding sites in the tissue by heparin and heparitinase I. CONCLUSIONS: FGF-2 is bound by HSPG in bronchial tissue. The mast cell, through the release of heparin and endoglycosidase, may make a unique contribution to tissue remodelling in allergic asthma.

Adult↗

FGF-2 enhances intestinal stem cell survival and its expression is induced after radiation injury.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) have mitogenic activity toward a wide variety of cells of mesenchymal, neuronal, and epithelial origin and regulate events in normal embryonic development, angiogenesis, wound repair, and neoplasia. FGF-2 is expressed in many normal adult tissues and can regulate migration and replication of intestinal epithelial cells in culture. However, little is known about the effects of FGF-2 on intestinal epithelial stem cells during either normal epithelial renewal or regeneration of a functional epithelium after injury. In this study, we investigated the expression of FGF-2 in the mouse small intestine after irradiation and determined the effect of exogenous FGF-2 on crypt stem cell survival after radiation injury. Expression of FGF-2 mRNA and protein began to increase at 12 h after gamma-irradiation, and peak levels were observed from 48 to 120 h after irradiation. At all times after irradiation, the higher molecular mass isoform ( approximately 24 kDa) of FGF-2 was the predominant form expressed in the small intestine. Immunohistochemical analysis of FGF-2 expression after radiation injury demonstrated that FGF-2 was predominantly found in the mesenchyme surrounding regenerating crypts. Exogenous recombinant human FGF-2 (rhFGF-2) markedly enhanced crypt stem cell survival when given before irradiation. We conclude that expression of FGF-2 is induced by radiation injury and that rhFGF-2 can enhance crypt stem cell survival after subsequent injury.

Animals↗

Exacerbation of myocardial injury in transgenic mice overexpressing FGF-2 is T cell dependent.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) is cardioprotective when added exogenously, stimulates cardiac myocyte proliferation, and is a mediator of tissue repair after injury. Furthermore, transgenic (TG) mice overexpressing FGF-2 in cardiac muscle demonstrate increased resistance to injury in an isolated heart model of ischemia-reperfusion. We investigated how increasing the endogenous FGF-2 levels in the heart affects the extent of myocardial damage induced by isoproterenol in vivo. Histopathological evaluation of hearts after intraperitoneal injection of isoproterenol yielded significantly higher scores for myocardial damage in FGF-2 TG lines compared with non-TG mice. After 1 day, FGF-2 TG mouse hearts displayed more cellular infiltration correlating with increased tissue damage. Immunostaining of non-TG and FGF-2 TG mouse hearts showed the presence of leukocytes in the infiltrate, including T cells expressing FGF receptor-1. Treatment of mice with T cell suppressors cyclosporin A and anti-CD3epsilon significantly decreased the level of myocardial injury observed after isoproterenol and equalized the histopathology scores in FGF-2 TG and non-TG hearts. These data demonstrate a direct T cell involvement in the response to isoproterenol-induced injury in vivo. Moreover, the findings indicate that the exacerbation of myocardial damage in FGF-2 TG mice was dependent on T cell infiltration, implicating FGF-2 in the inflammatory response seen in cardiac tissue after injury in vivo.

Animals↗

Increased endothelial survival of organ-cultured corneas stored in FGF-2-supplemented serum-free medium.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of FGF-2 on corneal endothelial cell survival in porcine and human corneas during corneal storage in a serum-free medium. METHODS: Porcine and paired human corneas were stored at 32 degrees C for 9 and 22 days, respectively. One cornea of each pair was stored in a serum-free culture medium, and the mate was preserved in the same medium supplemented with 10 ng/mL FGF-2. Quantitative analysis of corneal damage after storage was determined by the Janus green photometry technique. 5-Bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling of the endothelium determined the effect of FGF-2 on endothelial proliferation during storage. Additional cell culture studies were performed to elucidate the role of FGF-2 on the incidence of endothelial apoptosis after serum deprivation. RESULTS: When FGF-2 was added to the serum-free medium, the damage rates of porcine endothelia were reduced from 15.1% +/- 8.7% (control) to 6.4% +/- 2.0% after 9 days and from 25.3% +/- 10.2% to 13.6% +/- 4.2% after 22 days of storage. In the human corneas stored during 22 days in FGF-2-supplemented medium, the amount of endothelial damage was 11.8% +/- 3.2%, which was significantly less damage than in the control fellow corneas stored in unsupplemented serum-free medium (19.3% +/- 6.3%; P < 0.01). DNA synthesis was not enhanced in corneas stored in serum-free medium, serum-free medium+FGF-2, or medium containing 10% FCS. Only a few (3.8%) TUNEL-positive endothelial cells were detected in cultures maintained in FGF-2-supplemented serum-free medium compared with a high number (48%) of apoptotic cells in control cultures. CONCLUSIONS: FGF-2 efficiently reduces human corneal endothelial damage that occurs during organ culture storage in a serum-free medium. This effect is truly protective, because no proliferative activity and a decreased rate of apoptosis were determined. FGF-2 emerges as an important component of a future serum-free corneal organ-culture medium established to replace fetal calf serum (FCS) as a potential source of recipient infection.

Aged↗

FGF-23 is elevated by chronic hyperphosphatemia.

The Identification and characterization of FGF-23 has provided an opportunity to gain new insight into phosphorus metabolism. Circulating FGF-23 promotes renal excretion of phosphorus, and FGF-23 is measurable in the serum of normal subjects. Serum levels of FGF-23 are elevated in patients with renal phosphate wasting disorders such as tumor induced osteomalacia, X-linked hypophosphatemia and fibrous dysplasia. However, the factors that alter its serum concentration are not known. The study of serum FGF-23 is confounded by the fact that high serum calcium, PTH, and any other putative phosphotonins, have similar effects on serum and urine phosphorus. To circumvent the confounding effect of serum PTH and calcium, we studied serum FGF-23 and phosphate levels in patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism and hyperphosphatemia. Serum was collected in the morning after an overnight fast from three groups: 1) 9 patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism on stable treatment with calcium and calcitriol, 2) 9 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, and 3) 77 normal controls. Patients with hypoparathyroidism had predictably higher levels of serum phosphorus than patients with hyperparathyroidism or normal controls (5.6 +/- 1.1, 3.1 +/- 0.6, and 3.1 +/- 0.5 mg/dL, mean +/- 1 SD, respectively (p < 0.01 for hypoparathyroid vs. either group)). They also had higher levels of FGF-23 (150 +/- 120 vs. 70 +/- 60, or 55 +/- 20 RIU/ml, respectively (p < 0.05 vs. either group)). In conclusion, serum FGF-23 levels are elevated in patients with hyperphosphatemia and chronic hypoparathyroidism, suggesting a feedback system in which serum FGF-23 responds to serum phosphorus and regulates it. However, in the setting of chronic hypoparathyroidism, the degree of elevation of FGF-23 is insufficient to normalize serum phosphorus.

Adult↗

FGF signaling is required for {beta}-catenin-mediated induction of the zebrafish organizer.

We have used the maternal effect mutant ichabod, which is deficient in maternal beta-catenin signaling, to test for the epistatic relationship between beta-catenin activation, FGF signaling and bozozok, squint and chordin expression. Injection of beta-catenin RNA into ichabod embryos can completely rescue normal development. By contrast, when FGF signaling is inhibited, beta-catenin did not induce goosecoid and chordin, repress bmp4 expression or induce a dorsal axis. These results demonstrate that FGF signaling is necessary for beta-catenin induction of the zebrafish organizer. We show that FGFs function downstream of squint and bozozok to turn on chordin expression. Full rescue of ichabod by Squint is dependent on FGF signaling, and partial rescue by FGFs is completely dependent on chordin. By contrast, Bozozok can rescue the complete anteroposterior axis, but not notochord, in embryos blocked in FGF signaling. Surprisingly, accumulation of bozozok transcript in beta-catenin RNA-injected ichabod embryos is also dependent on FGF signaling, indicating a role of FGFs in maintenance of bozozok RNA. These experiments show that FGF-dependent organizer function operates through both bozozok RNA accumulation and a pathway consisting of beta-catenin-->Squint-->FGF-->Chordin, in which each component is sufficient for expression of the downstream factors of the pathway, and in which Nodal signaling is required for FGF gene expression and FGF signaling is required for Squint induction of chordin.

Animals↗

Extracellular FGF-1 acts as a lens differentiation factor in transgenic mice.

The vertebrate ocular lens undergoes a spatially defined pattern of differentiation which may be regulated by the ocular distribution of proteins from the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. The ability of altered FGF-1 (acidic FGF) distribution to disrupt the normal pattern of lens differentiation was evaluated by the production of transgenic mice which express FGF-1 under the control of the lens-specific alpha A-crystallin promoter. Since FGF-1 lacks a classical signal peptide consensus sequence, transgenic mice were also produced with a chimeric construct containing the signal peptide sequence of the FGF-4 gene fused in frame to the coding sequences of the FGF-1 cDNA in order to obtain extracellular expression of the transgene. The presence of transgenic mRNA and protein was confirmed by in situ hybridization, Western analysis and immunohistochemistry. The ocular histology of newborn and young adult transgenic mice expressing FGF-1 without a signal peptide appeared normal. In contrast, mice expressing secreted FGF-1 exhibited lens abnormalities including the elongation of anterior epithelial cells. Epithelial cell elongation was accompanied by expression of the fiber cell differentiation marker, beta-crystallin. These observations provide an in vivo demonstration that FGF-1 can induce anterior lens epithelial cells to express characteristics consistent with the onset of fiber cell differentiation. The transgenic induction of differentiation confirms that normal lens morphology reflects an asymmetric distribution of inductive factors within the eye.

Animals↗

Fgf signalling through MAPK cascade is required for development of the subpallial telencephalon in zebrafish embryos.

The telencephalon is formed in the most anterior part of the central nervous system (CNS) and is organised into ventral subpallial and dorsal pallial domains. In mice, it has been demonstrated that Fgf signalling has an important role in induction and patterning of the telencephalon. However, the precise role of Fgf signalling is still unclear, owing to overlapping functions of Fgf family genes. To address this, we have examined, in zebrafish embryos, the activation of Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), one of the major downstream targets of Fgf signalling. Immunohistochemical analysis reveals that an extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), a vertebrate MAPK is activated in the anterior neural boundary (ANB) of the developing CNS at early segmentation stages. Experiments with Fgf inhibitors reveal that ERK activation at this stage is totally dependent on Fgf signalling. Interestingly, a substantial amount of ERK activation is observed in ace mutants in which fgf8 gene is mutated. We then examine the function of Fgf signalling in telencephalic development by use of several inhibitors to Fgf signalling cascade, including dominant-negative forms of Ras (Ras(N17)) and the Fgf receptor (Fgfr), and a chemical inhibitor of Fgfr, SU5402. In treated embryos, the induction of telencephalic territory normally proceeded but the development of the subpallial telencephalon was suppressed, indicating that Fgf signalling is required for the regionalisation within the telencephalon. Finally, antisense experiments with morpholino-modified oligonucleotides suggest that zebrafish fgf3, which is also expressed in the ANB, co-operates with fgf8 in subpallial development.

Animals↗

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the serum level of fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) to understand its physiological role in the disorder. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-eight patients with pHPT who underwent parathyroidectomy formed the study group. We also measured serum FGF-23 in 11 of these patients on postoperative day 6. RESULTS: Serum FGF-23 levels was significantly higher in pHPT patients than in healthy controls (35.6+/-17.8 ng/l vs 28.9+/-11.2 ng/l (mean+/-s.d.); P<0.001 (Pearson's correlation coefficient)), but there was no significant difference in the serum FGF-23 level between pHPT patients with normal renal function (creatinine clearance (Ccr) of >or=70 ml/min) and healthy controls. Serum FGF-23 correlated positively with serum calcium (P<0.0001) and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) (P<0.01), and negatively with Ccr (P<0.001), serum phosphate (P<0.05), and serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)(2)D) (P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis of factors potentially determining serum FGF-23 levels in pHPT patients showed serum calcium (P<0.01) and Ccr (P<0.001) to be significant predictors. The serum levels of FGF-23 did not change after parathyroidectomy despite the normalization of serum calcium values. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that serum FGF-23 was not a significant predictor of serum phosphate or 1,25(OH)(2)D in pHPT patients. CONCLUSIONS: FGF-23 may not play a significant role in regulating phosphate or 1,25(OH)(2)D in pHPT patients, especially in those with normal renal function. Further studies are warranted to determine the role of FGF-23 in renal insufficiency or failure.

Adult↗

Cdk4 and p27Kip1 play a role in PLC-gamma1-mediated mitogenic signaling pathway of 18 kDa FGF-2 in corneal endothelial cells.

PURPOSE: To determine whether PLC-gamma1 enzyme activity is essential for cell proliferation in response to FGF-2 stimulation and to investigate the effect of PLC-gamma1 activation on cell division and on processes that regulate cell cycle progression. METHODS: Cell proliferation was assayed using a colorimetric method to determine the number of viable cells. Subcellular localization of proteins was determined by immunocytochemical analysis, and expression of the proteins was analyzed by immunoblotting. PLC activity was determined by measuring the total inositol phosphates. RESULTS: When CEC were treated with FGF-2, a prolonged and continuous FGF-2 exposure was required for both PLC enzyme activation and cell proliferation. However, there was a long lag period between the PLC enzyme activation and cell proliferation: the maximum enzyme activity was reached 8 h after FGF-2 stimulation, but no cell proliferation was observed in the cells exposed to FGF-2 for 8 h. Using neutralizing anti-PLC-gamma1, PLC-beta1, or PLC-delta1 antibodies, we further demonstrated that PLC-gamma1 accounts for the hydrolysis of total phosphoinositides (PI) and cell proliferation mediated by FGF-2. The role of PLC-gamma1 linking to the cell cycle was then determined by the blockades of FGF-2 action on Cdk4 and p27-Kip1. Interestingly, FGF-2 both upregulates Cdk4 synthesis and facilitates the nuclear import of the molecule from the cytoplasm, whereas it facilitates the nuclear export of p27-Kip1 to the cytoplasm without affecting synthesis of the molecule. The neutralizing anti-PLC-gamma1 antibody completely abolishes the FGF-2 activity on Cdk4, both at the synthetic level and at the level of translocation, and the PLC-gamma1 antibody blocks the nuclear export of p27-Kip1. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that PLC-gamma1 ultimately leads to activation of the cell cycle machinery to induce cell proliferation mediated by FGF-2. It does so by upregulating Cdk4 expression and by facilitating the nuclear import of the molecule and nuclear export of the Cdk inhibitor (p27-Kip1) to the proteolysis site, the cytoplasm.

Animals↗

[Expression of BDNF and FGF-2 following axotomy in rat facial motoneurons].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression and distribution of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in normal facial motoneurons (FMNs) and in FMNs following axotomy. METHODS: The right facial nerves were transected 6 mm distal to the stylomastoid foraman in adult Wistar rats except the normal group. Serial 20 microns cryosections were cut through the whole brainstems. Expressions of BDNF and FGF-2 mRNA as well as BDNF and FGF-2 protein were studied by in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and image analysis. RESULTS: BDNF mRNA and its protein were observed in widespread areas of normal rat facial nucleus, and those increased 1 day after axotomy. In addition to neurons, glial cells were also stained. FGF-2 mRNA and its protein were mainly localized in normal FMNs of ventral facial nucleus. After axotomy, expression of FGF-2 mRNA started to up-regulate in FMNs at 7 days, however FGF-2 protein drastically reduced at 3 and 7 days. CONCLUSION: In addition to target-supporting, there may be BDNF autocrine and paracrine mechanisms as well as FGF-2 autocrine mechanisms in normal rat FMN. When target-derived BDNF is deprived, alternative sources of BDNF support may substitute immediately after axotomy. However, deprivating of target--derived FGF-2 may result in down-regulation of FGF-2 protein in adult rat FMNs at early stage after axotomy. These suggest that the exogenous FGF-2 might provide a supportive environment for the recovery of metabolism and function of FMNs at early stage following axotomy.

Animals↗