A synergistic effect on microvessel cell proliferation between basic fibroblast growth factor (FGFb) and endothelial cell stimulating angiogenesis factor (ESAF).

Stimulation of microvessel endothelial cells grown on collagen gels by endothelial cell stimulating angiogenesis factor was confirmed (1). The potent endothelial cell growth stimulating activity of basic fibroblast growth factor has also been demonstrated for cells grown on collagen gels. However, the growth factor activity of basic fibroblast growth factor towards microvessel endothelial cells was almost eliminated when experiments were carried out in the presence of diafiltered foetal calf serum, but was partially restored by the addition of endothelial cell stimulating angiogenesis factor to medium containing the diafiltered serum. In contrast to these observations, foetal skin fibroblasts were stimulated by basic fibroblast growth factor when grown in medium with diafiltered serum, and this stimulation was not modified by the presence of endothelial cell stimulating angiogenesis factor.