Fibroblast growth factors, proteins with a broad spectrum of biological activities.

The first two members of the fibroblast growth factor family of proteins were isolated ten years ago. The family now includes nine members. Six of them are biologically and structurally closely related, and often the denomination fibroblast growth factor family refers exclusively to them. It has become progressively evident that the six most similar members of the family induce mitogenesis in practically all mesoderm and neuroectoderm derived cells. In healthy animals only two of these six polypeptides have been detected, which are currently known as acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors, respectively. These two polypeptides are widely distributed in the organism. Evidence has been progressively accumulating that acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors show too, a wide assortment of hormone-like activities.