title: Fibroblast growth factors: biology, function, and application for tissue regeneration.
abstract: Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) that signal through FGF receptors (FGFRs) regulate a broad spectrum of biological functions, including cellular proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation. The FGF signal pathways are the RAS/MAP kinase pathway, PI3 kinase/AKT pathway, and PLCγ pathway, among which the RAS/MAP kinase pathway is known to be predominant. Several studies have recently implicated the in vitro biological functions of FGFs for tissue regeneration. However, to obtain optimal outcomes in vivo, it is important to enhance the half-life of FGFs and their biological stability. Future applications of FGFs are expected when the biological functions of FGFs are potentiated through the appropriate use of delivery systems and scaffolds. This review will introduce the biology and cellular functions of FGFs and deal with the biomaterials based delivery systems and their current applications for the regeneration of tissues, including skin, blood vessel, muscle, adipose, tendon/ligament, cartilage, bone, tooth, and nerve tissues.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tissue Regeneration Engineering (ITREN), Dankook University, Cheonan 330-714, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ye-Rang
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Jong Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Eunyi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Sujin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wonmo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hyejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.forename: Jun-Hyeog
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Ueon Sang
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Hae-Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kim