Fibroblast growth factors, or FGFs, are a family of growth factors, which are multifunctional proteins with a wide variety of effects. FGFs are most commonly mitogens but also have morphological, regulatory, and endocrine effects. They have been alternately referred to as "pluripotent" growth factors and as "promiscuous" growth factors due to their multiple actions on multiple cell types. Promiscuous refers to the biochemistry and pharmacology concept of how a variety of molecules can bind to and elicit a response from single receptor. In the case of FGF, four receptor subtypes can be activated by more than twenty different FGF ligands. Thus, the functions of FGFs in developmental processes can include mesoderm induction, anterior-posterior patterning, limb development, neural induction and neural development. In humans, 22 members of the FGFs family have been identified, all of which are structurally related signaling molecules.
In addition to these embryonic activities during development, FGFs are also critical in the adult mouse response to injury and tissue repair. FGFs signaling is cardioprotective following ischemic injury to the heart, it is important for epithelial repair in the lung and in wound healing, and may also increase or decrease tissue fibrosis. Endocrine FGFs mediate mineral, metabolic, energy, and bile acid homeostasis. At the cellular level, secreted FGFs regulate fundamental cellular processes that include positive and negative regulation of proliferation, survival, migration, differentiation, and metabolism.
In this Research Topic, we will focus on the new developments for FGFs treatment or mechanisms of action, ranging from basic research to clinical translational studies. We encourage authors to submit Original Research, Reviews, Case Studies, Opinions and Perspectives including, but not limited, to any one or more of the following themes.
1) The role of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) in biological processes, from organogenesis to metabolism homeostasis and angiogenesis
2) The mechanism and role of FGFs in heart development, health, and disease
3) The role of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling in neurological and psychiatric disorders.
4) Fibroblast growth factor signaling in metabolic regulation.
5) The role of FGFs/FGFRs in early development, organogenesis, musculoskeletal biology, nervous system, endocrine FGFs in metabolism, tumorigenesis, intracellular signaling and emerging research areas.
6) Current status and future developments of fibroblast growth factor
7) FGFs in Tissue Regeneration and Repair
Fibroblast growth factors, or FGFs, are a family of growth factors, which are multifunctional proteins with a wide variety of effects. FGFs are most commonly mitogens but also have morphological, regulatory, and endocrine effects. They have been alternately referred to as "pluripotent" growth factors and as "promiscuous" growth factors due to their multiple actions on multiple cell types. Promiscuous refers to the biochemistry and pharmacology concept of how a variety of molecules can bind to and elicit a response from single receptor. In the case of FGF, four receptor subtypes can be activated by more than twenty different FGF ligands. Thus, the functions of FGFs in developmental processes can include mesoderm induction, anterior-posterior patterning, limb development, neural induction and neural development. In humans, 22 members of the FGFs family have been identified, all of which are structurally related signaling molecules.
In addition to these embryonic activities during development, FGFs are also critical in the adult mouse response to injury and tissue repair. FGFs signaling is cardioprotective following ischemic injury to the heart, it is important for epithelial repair in the lung and in wound healing, and may also increase or decrease tissue fibrosis. Endocrine FGFs mediate mineral, metabolic, energy, and bile acid homeostasis. At the cellular level, secreted FGFs regulate fundamental cellular processes that include positive and negative regulation of proliferation, survival, migration, differentiation, and metabolism.
In this Research Topic, we will focus on the new developments for FGFs treatment or mechanisms of action, ranging from basic research to clinical translational studies. We encourage authors to submit Original Research, Reviews, Case Studies, Opinions and Perspectives including, but not limited, to any one or more of the following themes.
1) The role of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) in biological processes, from organogenesis to metabolism homeostasis and angiogenesis
2) The mechanism and role of FGFs in heart development, health, and disease
3) The role of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling in neurological and psychiatric disorders.
4) Fibroblast growth factor signaling in metabolic regulation.
5) The role of FGFs/FGFRs in early development, organogenesis, musculoskeletal biology, nervous system, endocrine FGFs in metabolism, tumorigenesis, intracellular signaling and emerging research areas.
6) Current status and future developments of fibroblast growth factor
7) FGFs in Tissue Regeneration and Repair
