title: Fibroblast growth factor signaling in the vasculature.
abstract: Despite their discovery as angiogenic factors and mitogens for endothelial cells more than 30 years ago, much remains to be determined about the role of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors in vascular development, homeostasis, and disease. In vitro studies show that members of the FGF family stimulate growth, migration, and sprouting of endothelial cells, and growth, migration, and phenotypic plasticity of vascular smooth muscle cells. Recent studies have revealed important roles for FGFs and their receptors in the regulation of endothelial cell sprouting and vascular homeostasis in vivo. Furthermore, recent work has revealed roles for FGFs in atherosclerosis, vascular calcification, and vascular dysfunction. The large number of FGFs and their receptors expressed in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells complicates these studies. In this review, we summarize recent studies in which new and unanticipated roles for FGFs and their receptors in the vasculature have been revealed.
authors: Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, 81 Research Drive, Scarborough, ME, 04074, USA.
authors: Xuehui
authors: X
authors: Yang
authors: Lucy
authors: L
authors: Liaw
authors: Igor
authors: I
authors: Prudovsky
authors: Peter C
authors: PC
authors: Brooks
authors: Calvin
authors: C
authors: Vary
authors: Leif
authors: L
authors: Oxburgh
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Friesel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors