• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.9.1-9.10
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• 2018

Although the positive effects of recombinant fibroblast growth factor-2 (rFGF-2) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been implicated in previous studies, knowledge of its role in COPD remains limited. The mechanism of FGF2 in a COPD mouse model and the therapeutic potential of rFGF-2 were investigated in COPD. The mechanism and protective effects of rFGF-2 were evaluated in cigarette smoke-exposed or elastase-induced COPD animal models. Inflammation was assessed in alveolar cells and lung tissues from mice. FGF-2 was decreased in the lungs of cigarette smoke-exposed mice. Intranasal use of rFGF-2 significantly reduced macrophage-dominant inflammation and alveolar destruction in the lungs. In the elastase-induced emphysema model, rFGF-2 improved regeneration of the lungs. In humans, plasma FGF-2 was decreased significantly in COPD compared with normal subjects (10 subjects, P = 0.037). The safety and efficacy of inhaled rFGF-2 use was examined in COPD patients, along with changes in respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function. A 2-week treatment with inhaled rFGF-2 in COPD (n = 6) resulted in significantly improved respiratory symptoms compared with baseline levels (P < 0.05); however, the results were not significant compared with the placebo. The pulmonary function test results of COPD improved numerically compared with those in the placebo, but the difference was not statistically significant. No serious adverse events occurred during treatment with inhaled rFGF-2. The loss of FGF-2 production is an important mechanism in the development of COPD. Inhaling rFGF-2 may be a new therapeutic option for patients with COPD because rFGF-2 decreases inflammation in lungs exposed to cigarette smoke.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.263-268
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• 2004

The sprouting of vascular endothelial cells is an initial step in angiogenesis. Matrix metalloproteinases can associate with integrin on the surface of endothelial cells, thereby promoting angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to test if fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) can regulate the sprouting in porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cells. FGF-2 induced sprouting and secretion of MMP-2 and plasmin. FGF-2 also induced the expression of integrin Mac-1, which is inhibited IS20I. Addition of BB-94, a 2-antiplasmin and IS20I inhibited FGF-2-induced sprouting activity. Therefore, FGF-2-induced sprouting activity in PPAECs may be accomplished by secretion of proteinases such as MMP-2 and plasmin and integrin expression.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.640-650
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• 2020

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is an atypical member of the FGF protein family which is highly synthesized in the liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue. Depending on the expression tissue, FGF21 uses endo- or paracrine features to regulate several metabolic pathways including glucose metabolism and energy homeostasis. Different physiologically stressful conditions such as starvation, a ketogenic diet, extreme cold, and mitochondrial dysfunction are known to induce FGF21 synthesis in various tissues to exert either adaptive or defensive mechanisms. More specifically, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha control FGF21 expression in adipose tissue and liver, respectively. In addition, the pharmacologic administration of FGF21 has been reported to decrease the body weight and improve the insulin sensitivity and lipoprotein profiles of obese mice and type 2 diabetes patients meaning that FGF21 has attracted huge interest as a therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, understanding FGF21 remains complicated due to the paradoxical condition of its tissue-dependent expression. For example, nutrient deprivation largely increases hepatic FGF21 levels whereas adipose tissue-derived FGF21 is increased under feeding condition. This review discusses the issues of interest that have arisen from existing publications, including the tissue-specific function of FGF21 and its action mechanism. We also summarize the current stage of a clinical trial using several FGF21 analogs.

• Biodesign
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.92-95
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• 2018

API5 is a unique oncogenic, non-BIR type IAP nuclear protein and is up-regulated in several cancers. It exerts several functions, such as apoptosis inhibition, cell cycle progression, cancer immune escape, and anticancer drug resistance. Although structural studies of API have revealed that API5 mediates protein-protein interactions, its detailed molecular functions remain unknown. Since FGF2 is one of API5's major interacting proteins, structural studies of the API5-FGF2 complex will provide insight into both proteins' molecular function. We overexpressed and purified API5 and FGF2 in Escherichia coli and crystallized the API-FGF2 complex using polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 as a precipitant. Diffraction data were collected to a $2.7{\AA}$ resolution using synchrotron X-rays. Preliminary diffraction analysis revealed that the API5-FGF2 complex crystal belongs to the space group $P2_12_12_1$ with the following unit cell parameters: a = 46.862, b = 76.523, $c=208.161{\AA}$. One asymmetric unit with 49.9% solvent contains one API5-FGF2 complex. Molecular replacement calculation, using API5 and FGF2 coordinates, provided a clear electron density map for an API5-FGF2 complex.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.275-283
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• 2018

Human fibroblast growth factor (FGF) has the potential to be a commercially important therapeutic or cosmeceutical agent due to its ability to generate tissue and heal wounds. Granting permeability into skin tissues increases the therapeutic effects of FGF. Thus, several researchers have attempted the fusion of FGF conjugates with protein transduction domains (PTDs) to investigate the transduction ability and therapeutic effects of FGF. Less is known, however, about whether the location of PTD fused to the N- or C-terminus of FGF proteins has a significant impact on the folding and stability in Escherichia coli, and eventually, on transduction. Here, we report cloning of human basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) as a control and FGF2 with PTD fused to the N- or C-terminal ends of FGF proteins by an overlap extension PCR. We performed expression, verified expression properties of recombinant FGF2 without or with PTD fused to the N-terminus and the C-terminus, and investigated transduction ability into tissue by treating the dorsal skin of mice subjects. As a result, FGF2 and FGF2-PTD (fused to C-terminus) fusion protein were expressed as soluble forms suitable for straight-forward purification, unlike insoluble PTD-FGF2 (fused to N-terminus), but only FGF2-PTD fusion protein could transduce into the dorsal skin tissue of the mice subjects. Our results suggest that FGF2 with PTD fused to the C-terminus is more efficient than other options in terms of expression, purification, and delivery into skin tissue, as it does not require labor-intensive, costly, and time-consuming methods.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.300-308
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• 2000

The Fibroblast growth factors(FGFs) plays an important role in the control of osteogenesis during skeletal development. Especially, FGF-2 is a potent mesodermal inducer during embryogenesis and FGF receptors (FGFRs) messages are strongly expressed in developing bones. In this study, we investigated the effect of bFGF on osteopontin(OPN) gene expression in ST-2 cells and tried to elucidate the mechanism of its stimulatory effects. The obtain results were as follows; The treatment of bFGF(1ng/ml) upregulates OPN, fibronectin mRNA levels and downregulates type I collagen mRNA levels. But, there was no remarkable difference in alkaline phosphatase mRNA levels between two groups. The OPN gene expression increased in a dose-dependent manner up to 10ng/ml and OPN gene began to occur at around 3h with continuous increase up to 24h then decreased to basal level at 48h. 30 minutues pretreatment with cycloheximide (500ng/ml), a protein synthesis inhibitor, prior to addition bFGF resulted in blocking bFGF induced OPN expression. These results suggest that bFGF increased the level of OPN mRNA in a dose and time-dependent manner via the synthesis of certain transcriptional regulatory proteins.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.379-384
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• 2004

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) is known to modulate numerous cellular functions in various cell types, including cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, adhesion, migration, and motility, and also in processes such as wound healing, angiogenesis, and vasculogenesis. FGF-2 regulates the expression of several molecules thought to mediate critical steps during angiogenesis. This study examines the mechanisms underlying FGF-2-induced cell migration, using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). FGF-2 induced the nondirectional and directional migration of endothelial cells, which are inhibited by MMPs and plasmin inhibitors, and induced the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3) and MMP-9, but not MMP-l and MMP-2. FGF-2 also induced the secretion of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-l (TIMP-I), but not of TIMP- 2. Also, the pan-PKC inhibitor inhibited FGF-2-induced MMP-9 secretion. It is, therefore, suggested that FGF-2 induces the migration of cultured endothelial cells by means of increased MMPs and plasmin secretion. Furthermore, FGF-2 may increase MMP-9 secretion by activating the PKC pathway.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.550-557
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• 2017

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is the connective tissue between tooth root and alveolar bone containing mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). It has been suggested that human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) differentiate into osteo/cementoblast and ligament progenitor cells. The periodontitis is a representative oral disease where the PDL tissue is collapsed, and regeneration of this tissue is important in periodontitis therapy. Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) stimulates proliferation and differentiation of fibroblastic MSCs into various cell lineages. We evaluated the dose efficacy of FGF-2 for cytodifferentiation of hPDLSCs into ligament progenitor. The fibrous morphology was highly stimulated even at low FGF-2 concentrations, and the expression of teno/ligamentogenic markers, scleraxis and tenomodulin in hPDLSCs increased in a dose dependent manner of FGF-2. In contrast, expression of the osteo/cementogenic markers decreased, suggesting that FGF-2 might induce and maintain the ligamentogenic potential of hPDLSCs. Although the stimulation of tenocytic maturation by $TGF-{\beta}1$ was diminished by FGF-2, the inhibition of the expression of early ligamentogenic marker by $TGF-{\beta}1$ was redeemed by FGF-2 treatment. The stimulating effect of BMPs on osteo/cementogenesis was apparently suppressed by FGF-2. These results indicate that FGF-2 predominantly differentiates the hPDLSCs into teno/ligamentogenesis, and has an antagonistic effect on the hard tissue differentiation induced by BMP-2 and BMP-4.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.331-337
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• 2016

Although fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is exclusively produced in osteoblasts and osteocytes, its main target is the kidney, where it decreases phosphate reabsorption by suppressing Na-phosphate cotransporters. Independently of its action on phosphate homeostasis, FGF23 also inhibits bone formation in vivo. In a calvarial osteoblastic cell model, FGF23 was shown to negatively affect extracellular matrix mineralization. This study investigated whether FGF23 had similar effects on osteoblast maturation, including differentiation and mineralization of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). D1 MSCs were cultured in an osteogenic medium containing β-glycerophosphate, ascorbic acid, and dexamethazone. Osteoblastic differentiation was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase (Alp) staining, and matrix mineralization was evaluated by alizarin red staining and calcium deposition. The expression of differentiation-stimulating genes Runx2, Alp, and osteocalcin and mineralization-inhibiting genes Enpp1 and Ank was analyzed using semiquantitative RT-PCR. Supraphysiological doses of FGF23 did not stimulate proliferation or osteoblastic differentiation of MSCs. Matrix mineralization 1, 2, and 3 weeks after the FGF23 treatment did not vary between control and FGF23 groups, although time-dependent enhancement of mineralization was obvious. Calcium deposition was also unchanged after the FGF23 treatment. mRNA expression levels of differentiation- and mineralization-related genes were also similar between the groups. Despite these negative findings, FGF23 signaling through FGF receptors seemed to function normally, with phosphorylation of the Erk protein more evident in the FGF23 group than in controls. These findings suggest that unlike calvarial osteoblasts, FGF23 is not likely to affect osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization of MSCs.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.253-263
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• 2002

Purpose : In order to understand in vivo radiation damage modifying of bFGF on jejunal mucosa, bone marrow and the effect of bFGF on the growth of transplanted mouse sarcoma 180 tumor in mice. Materials and Methods : Mice were treated with $6\;{\mu}g$ of bFGF at 24 hours and 4 hours before exposing to 600 cGy, 800 cGy and 1,000 cGy total body irradiation (TBI), and then exposed to 3,000 cGy local radiation therapy on the tumor bearing thigh. Survival and tumor growth curve were plotted in radiation alone group and combined group of bFGF and irradiation (RT). Histologic examination was performed in another experimental group. Experimental groups consisted of normal control, tumor control, RT (radiation therapy) alone, $6\;{\mu}g$ bFGF alone, combined group of $3\;{\mu}g$ bFGF and irradiation (RT), combined group of $6\;{\mu}g$ bFGF and irradiation (RT). Histologic examination was peformed with H-E staining in marrow, jejunal mucosa, lung and sarcoma 180 bearing tumor. Radiation induced apoptosis was determined in each group with the DNA terminal transferase nick-end labeling method ($ApopTag^{\circledR}$ S7100-kit, Intergen Co.) Results : The results were as follows 1) $6\;{\mu}g$ bFGF given before TBI significantly improved the survival of lethally irradiated mice. bFGF would protect against lethal bone marrow syndrome. 2) $6\;{\mu}g$ bFGF treated group showed a significant higher crypt depth and microvilli length than RT alone group (p<0.05). 3) The bone marrow of bFGF treated group showed less hypocellularity than radiation alone group on day 7 and 14 after TBI (p<0.05), and this protective effect was more evident in $6\;{\mu}g$ bFGF treated group than that of $3\;{\mu}g$ bFGF treated group. 4) bFGF protected against early radiation induced apoptosis in intestinal crypt cell but might have had no antiapoptotic effect in bone marrow stem cell and pulmonary endothelial cells. 5) There was no significant differences in tumor growth rate between tumor control and bFGF alone groups (p>0.05). 6) There were no significant differences in histopathologic findings of lung and mouse sarcoma 180 tumor between radiation alone group and bFGF treated group. Conclusions : Our results suggest that bFGF protects small bowel and bone marrow from acute radiation damage without promoting the inoculated tumor growth in C3H mice. Improved recovery of early responding normal tissue and reduced number of radiation induced apoptosis may be possible mechanism of radioprotective effect of bFGF.