title: Gene targeted ablation of high molecular weight fibroblast growth factor-2.
abstract: Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) is produced as high molecular weight isoforms (HMW) and a low molecular weight isoform (LMW) by means of alternative usage of translation start sites in a single Fgf2 mRNA. Although the physiological function of FGF2 and FGF2 LMW has been investigated in myocardial capillarogenesis during normal cardiac growth, the role of FGF2 HMW has not been determined. Here, we report the generation of FGF2 HMW-deficient mice in which FGF2 HMW isoforms are ablated by the Tag-and-Exchange gene targeting technique. These mice are normal and fertile with normal fecundity, and have a normal life span. Histological, immunohistochemical, and morphometric analyses indicate normal myocardial architecture, blood vessel, and cardiac capillary density in young adult FGF2 HMW-deficient mice. These mice along with the FGF2- and FGF2 LMW-deficient mice that we have generated previously will be very useful for elucidating the differential functions of FGF2 isoforms in pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: BIO5 Institute, and Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azhar
authors.forename: Moying
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Hongqi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Marwan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Eyad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nusayr
authors.forename: Jack B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Keenan
authors.forename: Hwudaurw
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pawlosky
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gard
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grisham
authors.forename: L Philip
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Sanford
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Doetschman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000502:physiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2