Basic fibroblast growth factor

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Basic fibroblast growth factor, also known as bFGF or FGF2, is a member of the fibroblast growth factor family.

In normal tissue, basic fibroblast growth factor is present in basement membranes and in the subendothelial extracellular matrix of blood vessels. It stays membrane-bound as long as there is no signal peptide.

It has been hypothesized that, during both wound healing of normal tissues and tumor development, the action of heparan sulphate-degrading enzymes activates bFGF, thus mediating the formation of new blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis.

Additionally, bFGF is a critical component of human embryonic stem cell culture medium; the growth factor is necessary for the cells to remain in an undifferentiated state, although the mechanisms by which it does this are poorly defined. It is necessary in mouse-feeder cell dependent culture systems, as well as in feeder and serum-free culture systems. [1]

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