Recombinant Human FGF-8f

Fibroblast growth factor-8 (FGF-8), also known as AIGF and HBGF, is a heparin binding growth factor belonging to the FGF family (1). Proteins of this family play a central role during prenatal development and postnatal growth and regeneration of a variety of tissues, by promoting cellular proliferation and differentiation (2). Alternate splicing of FGF-8 mRNA creates eight secreted isoforms (a-h) in mice and four (a, b, e and f) in humans (3). FGF-8a expands the midbrain in transgenic mice, while FGF-8b transforms the midbrain into cerebellum. FGF-8 activates the “c” splice forms of receptors FGF R2, FGF R3 and FGF R4, with differential activity among the FGF-8 isoforms. Overexpression of FGF-8 has been shown to increase tumor growth and angiogenesis. FGF-8b shows the strongest receptor affinity and oncogenic transforming capacity, although isoforms a and e have been found in human tumors (4). The adult expression of FGF-8 is restricted to testes and ovaries.