Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Brescia, I-25123 Brescia, Italy.
 

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) belong to a family of pleiotropic heparin-binding growth factors.

They exert multiple functions on various cell types of mesodermal and neuroectodermal origin, affecting cell proliferation, motility, survival, and differentiation. FGF’s exert their activity by interacting with tyrosine kinase receptors (FGFRs) and cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans. 

This article reviews recent studies on the role of the FGF/FGFR system in embryonic hematopoietic development, hematopoiesis, and hematological tumors. FGFs exert both autocrine and paracrine functions in these biological processes by acting on blood cells and their precursors and accessory cells in the bone marrow, including stromal and endothelial cells.
 

J Hematother & Stem Cell Res. 2002 11:19-32.
 

Role of the FGF/FGFR system in hematological tumors. FGFs produced by leukemia cells exert autocrine and paracrine functions in bone marrow and can stimulate cytokine production by stromal and endothelial cells. Deregulation of FGFR activity may contribute to the altered behavior of tumor cells.


Back to: Presta's lab