Role of fibroblast growth factors in elicitation of cell responses

Abstract Fibroblast growth factors ( FGF s) are signalling peptides that control important cell processes such as proliferation, differentiation, migration, adhesion and survival. Through binding to different types of receptor on the cell surface, these peptides can have different effects on a target cell, the effect achieved depending on many features. Thus, each of the known FGF s elicits specific biological responses. FGF receptors ( FGFR 1–5) initiate diverse intracellular pathways, which in turn lead to a variety of results. FGF s also bind the range of FGFR s with a series of affinities and each type of cells expresses FGFR s in different qualitative and quantitative patterns, which also affect responses. To summarize, cell response to binding of an FGF ligand depends on type of FGF , FGF receptor and target cell, all interacting in concert. This review aims to examine properties of the FGF family and its members receptors. It also aims to summarize features of intracellular signalling and highlight differential effects of the various FGF s in different circumstances.