成纤维细胞生长因子的转化研究及药物研发进展

成纤维细胞生长因子(fibroblast growth factors,FGFs)是生物体内重要的生长因子,对来源于中胚层和神经外胚层的组织细胞具有广泛的生物学作用,参与创伤修复、神经修复、代谢调控、新生血管形成和胚胎发育等过程。随着分子生物学等技术的不断进步,生物科学家们对FGFs的研究不断深入,FGFs有望成为一种新的治疗手段,为疾病的治疗提供新思路。目前,FGFs运用于烧伤创面及慢性溃疡创面治疗已有新药上市应用。文章就FGFs在创伤修复、神经修复、代谢调控和内脏缺血性损伤等领域的转化研究及其药物研发进行介绍。     

FGFs/FGFRs系统对骨调节的研究进展

成纤维细胞生长因子家族(fibroblast growth factors,FGFs)及其受体FGFRs系统影响骨骼发育和形成过程,FGF与细胞表面FGFR结合,激活信号通路调控多种细胞生长、分化和凋亡。骨是FGF的重要靶器官,研究表明FGFs/FGFRs系统对骨组织成骨细胞、破骨细胞、软骨细胞的增殖和分化起重要调控作用,本文就FGFs/FGFRs系统对骨组织调节研究进展进行综述。     

成纤维细胞生长因子的特性与分子功能

成纤维细胞生长因子(FGFs)是一类蛋白质活性肽,在有机体内外显示广谱的生物学活性和功能,在生物发育学、生理学与临床药理学方面具有重要的作用和意义．对 FGFs 家族成员肽的特征特性,FGFs 的染色体定位、基因结构与功能,FGFs 的信号分子作用与促分裂素作用,FGFs 的作用受体、主动和被动调节与拮抗机理进行了综述．     

成纤维细胞生长因子18(FGF18)的研究进展

成纤维细胞生长因子18 (fibroblast growth factor 18,FGF18)是成纤维细胞生长因子家族( FGFs)的成员之一.研究发现,FGF 18不仅在骨骼发育和生长期对软骨形成和成骨生成起着重要的作用,其功能也已延伸至其他许多生物过程,尽管对FGF18作为一个有用治疗靶点发挥作用的功能和机制仍有待进一步的发现及研究.现针对FGF18的特点,及其在骨骼发育中的功能,特别其在未来具有潜在应用领域上的研究进展进行综述.     

成纤维细胞生长因子的生理病理作用及应用进展

成纤维细胞生长因子(fibroblast growth factors,FGFs)以旁分泌或内分泌的方式参与多种生理活动的调节,维护成体组织的正常结构、功能并参与代谢调控。FGFs通过结合配体硫酸乙酰肝素或klotho使成纤维细胞生长因子受体二聚化而发挥生物学作用。过去的十年中,FGFs结构和分子机制的研究成果改变了人们对FGF信号在人类健康和疾病发生、发展中的认识,为以FGF及其受体为靶点的药物开发带来新的突破。文章综述了FGF的生理、病理作用及最新应用研究进展。     

成纤维细胞生长因子6(FGF6)的研究进展

成纤维细胞生长因子6(fibroblast growth factor 6,FGF6)是成纤维细胞生长因子家族(FGFs)的成员之一,主要通过与酪氨酸激酶受体(fibroblast growth factor receptor,FGFR)1和4结合发挥其生物学活性。研究发现,人FGF6几乎都积聚在肌源性细胞系中,参与肌源性细胞系的增殖及分化,在肌肉修复和再生过程中起重要作用,同时它还是一个重要的调节骨生成和骨重建的因子;FGF6在心脏中也有表达,进一步试验结果表明其具有促进心肌细胞增殖及保护心肌细胞凋亡的作用;在成体睾丸和乳腺癌中也检测到有FGF6的转录物,表明其在肿瘤发生发展中的作用。目前,FGF6在多种疾病中的功能和相关机制仍有待进一步研究和确认,但其所具备的生物学活性尤其是在肌肉再生方面具有重要的意义和巨大的应用潜力。     

成纤维细胞生长因子信号在骨损伤修复中的作用

骨损伤是常见的骨外科疾病。许多复杂的骨缺损,如创伤性大块骨缺损等常导致骨折延迟愈合及骨不连,是临床治疗中的难题。组织工程方法的运用为骨不连等的治疗提供了新的契机。成纤维细胞生长因子(fibroblast growth factor, FGF)信号在骨骼发育过程中发挥重要作用。基于其家族成员在骨折愈合过程中的时空表达及相关基因工程小鼠的表型,FGF信号相关分子被认为是骨再生修复的重要调节分子。该文将对FGF信号在骨损伤修复中的作用及应用方面的研究进展做综述,以期为其临床应用提供借鉴与参考。     

成纤维细胞生长因子的双受体系统

成纤维细胞生长因子(FGFs)对于细胞代谢的刺激作用是通过双受体系统（dual-receptor system）介导的.该系统包括一个酪氨酸激酶受体家族(FGFRs)及肝素硫酸蛋白多糖(HSPG).目前已知有4种FGFRs基因,其转录过程表现出剪切多样性.FGFs与FGFRs的结合表现出交叉特异性.HSPG可促进FGFs与FGFRs的结合和受体二聚体的形成,并增强FGFs对细胞调控的精度.FGFRs通过激活不同下游信号分子影响细胞有丝分裂、神经细胞轴突生长、胚胎发育等.     

间充质干细胞外泌体经不同信号通路调节骨代谢的研究进展

间充质干细胞外泌体(mesenchymal stem cell exocrines,MSC-EXOs)由间充质干细胞(mesenchymal stem cells,MSCs)释放，具有旁分泌作用的囊泡。MSC-EXOs可以通过传递细胞因子来介导细胞间通讯从而调节受体细胞的细胞行为。目前，已有许多研究发现，MSC-EXOs可以通过传递细胞因子介入骨代谢相关信号通路来调节骨代谢。本文对间充质干细胞外泌体调节骨代谢的主要信号通路内容及作用的研究进展进行综述总结，并讨论了外泌体中重要细胞因子的作用，旨在找寻MSCEXOs治疗骨代谢相关疾病新的治疗靶点。     

FGF23/α-Klotho信号传导的分子机制

成纤维细胞生长因子23(fibroblast growth factor 23,FGF23)是内分泌型FGFs家族中的重要一员,是一种重要的骨源性调磷激素。FGF23主要通过结合成纤维细胞生长因子受体(fibroblast growth factor receptor,FGFRs)/α-Klotho的复合物来调控肾脏中磷和维生素D的代谢。FGF23信号通路的异常与多种代谢性疾病尤其是慢性肾病(chronic kidney disease,CKD)有非常密切的关系。FGF23水平的不断上升是导致CKD患者疾病进程加快、诱发并发症甚至最终死亡的主要因素。通过对最近发表的FGF23-FGFR1c-α-Klotho三元复合物蛋白结构的分析,更好地阐明FGF23蛋白信号传导的分子机制,为相关疾病的治疗或药物开发提供新的策略。     

Microarray analyses of transdifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells

The molecular events associated with the age-related gain of fatty tissue in human bone marrow are still largely unknown. Besides enhanced adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), transdifferentiation of osteoblast progenitors may contribute to bone-related diseases like osteopenia. Transdifferentiation of MSC-derived osteoblast progenitors into adipocytes and vice versa has previously been proven feasible in our cell culture system. Here, we focus on mRNA species that are regulated during transdifferentiation and represent possible control factors for the initiation of transdifferentiation. Microarray analyses comparing transdifferentiated cells with normally differentiated cells exhibited large numbers of reproducibly regulated genes for both, adipogenic and osteogenic transdifferentiation. To evaluate the relevance of individual genes, we designed a scoring scheme to rank genes according to reproducibility, regulation level, and reciprocity between the different transdifferentiation directions. Thereby, members of several signaling pathways like FGF, IGF, and Wnt signaling showed explicitly differential expression patterns. Additional bioinformatic analysis of microarray analyses allowed us to identify potential key factors associated with transdifferentiation of adipocytes and osteoblasts, respectively. Fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) was scored as one of several lead candidate gene products to modulate the transdifferentiation process and is shown here to exert inhibitory effects on adipogenic commitment and differentiation.     

Fibroblast growth factor-2 regulates expression of osteopontin in periodontal ligament cells

Osteopontin is a protein found in the bone-related matrix and plays multiple regulatory roles in mineralizing and non-mineralizing tissue. In osteogenic cell-lines, the expression of osteopontin increases with the progression of differentiation, but both the expression and function of osteopontin vary with the cell type and its activation state. In this study, we examined the expression of osteopontin by clones established from mouse periodontal ligament, in response to inorganic phosphate and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2, which can induce periodontal tissue regeneration. The involvement of inorganic phosphate in the expression of osteopontin during the course of cell differentiation of a clone MPDL22 was confirmed by addition of foscarnet, an inorganic phosphate transport inhibitor. Although FGF-2 decreased the mRNA expression of almost every bone-related protein in MPDL22, FGF-2 upregulated the expression of osteopontin in MPDL22 at both mRNA and protein levels. Interestingly, FGF-2 enhanced the concentration of osteopontin in the culture supernatant of MPDL22, whereas inorganic phosphate did not. The FGF-2-induced osteopontin in the culture supernatant seems to be involved in cell survival activity. An immunohistochemical study showed that the FGF-2-induced osteopontin was mainly present in perinuclear matrices while the inorganic phosphate-induced osteopontin was associated with extracellular matrices in addition to perinuclear matrices. The present results indicated that FGF-2 induces unique expression of osteopontin, which may play a role different from the other bone-related proteins during the process of periodontal tissue regeneration by FGF-2.     

Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 and its related genes play key roles in the differentiation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast like cells

Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein (SATB) plays a critical role in bone generation and osteoblast differentiation. In the present study, the differentially expressed genes by SATB2 overexpression were analyzed in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells using Alizarin red S staining, wound healing assay and Agilent's Human Oligo Microarray. Calcium mineralization and motility were significantly enhanced in SATB2-overexpressed cells compared with untreated control. In addition, using the GeneSpringGX 7.3 program to compare the identified genes expressed in SATB2-overexpresed cells with untreated control, we found several unique genes closely associated with osteoblast differentiation, including SOX2, MBP2, WNT11 and MEN1 (up-regulated genes), and ILK, FGF23, FGFR2, and SNAI1 (down-regulated genes). Consistent with microarray data, real-time RT-PCR confirmed the significant up- and down-regulation of these genes at mRNA level in SATB2-overexpressed MC3T3-E1 cells. Overall, our findings suggest that the molecular regulation of SATB2 can be an attractive approach to develop a novel therapeutic strategy for bone-related diseases.     

The bone and the kidney

Renal tubular diseases may present with osteopenia, osteoporosis or osteomalacia, as a result of significant derangements in body electrolytes. In case of insufficient synthesis of calcitriol, as in renal failure, the more complex picture of renal osteodystrophy may develop. Hypothetically, also disturbed renal production of BMP-7 and Klotho could cause bone disease. However, the acknowledgment that osteocytes are capable of producing FGF23, a phosphaturic hormone at the same time modulating renal synthesis of calcitriol, indicates that it is also bone that can influence renal function. Importantly, a feed-back mechanism exists between FGF23 and calcitriol synthesis, while Klotho, produced by the kidney, determines activity and selectivity of FGF23. Identification of human diseases linked to disturbed production of FGF23 and Klotho underlines the importance of this new bone-kidney axis. Kidney and bone communicate reciprocally to regulate the sophisticated machinery responsible for divalent ions homeostasis and for osseous or extraosseous mineralisation processes.     

FGF10: A multifunctional mesenchymal–epithelial signaling growth factor in development,health, and disease

The FGF family comprises 22 members with diverse functions in development and health. FGF10 specifically activates FGFR2b in a paracrine manner with heparan sulfate as a co-factor. FGF10and FGFR2b are preferentially expressed in the mesenchyme and epithelium, respectively. FGF10 is a mesenchymal signaling molecule in the epithelium. FGF10 knockout mice die shortly after birth due to the complete absence of lungs as well as fore- and hindlimbs. FGF10 is also essential for the development of multiple organs. The phenotypes of Fgf10 knockout mice are very similar to those of FGFR2b knockout mice, indicating that FGF10 acts as a ligand that is specific to FGFR2b in mouse multi-organ development. FGF10 also plays roles in epithelial–mesenchymal transition, the repair of tissue injury, and embryonic stem cell differentiation. In humans, FGF10 loss-of-function mutations result in inherited diseases including aplasia of lacrimal and salivary gland, lacrimo-auriculo-dento-digital syndrome, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. FGF10 is also involved in the oncogenicity of pancreatic and breast cancers. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in FGF10 are also potential risk factors for limb deficiencies, cleft lip and palate, and extreme myopia. These findings indicate that FGF10 is a crucial paracrine signal from the mesenchyme to epithelium for development, health, and disease.     

FGF/FGFR signaling: From lung development to respiratory diseases

The fibroblast growth factor/fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGF/FGFR) signaling system regulates a variety of biological processes, including embryogenesis, angiogenesis, wound repair, tissue homeostasis, and cancer. It exerts these regulatory functions by controlling proliferation, differentiation, migration, survival, and metabolism of target cells. The morphological structure of the lung is a complex tree-like network for effective oxygen exchange, and the airway terminates in the middle and distal ends of many alveoli. FGF/FGFR signaling plays an important role in the pathophysiology of lung development and pathogenesis of various human respiratory diseases. Here, we mainly review recent advances in FGF/FGFR signaling during human lung development and respiratory diseases, including lung cancer, acute lung injury (ALI), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis.     

RANKL-RANK signaling in osteoclastogenesis and bone disease

Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are affected by bone-related diseases, such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of bone metabolism is crucial for developing novel drugs for treating such diseases. In particular, genetic experiments showing that the receptor activator of NF-kappaB (RANK), its ligand RANKL, and the decoy receptor OPG are essential, central regulators of osteoclast development and osteoclast function were significant turning points in our understanding of bone diseases. RANKL-RANK signaling activates a variety of downstream signaling pathways required for osteoclast development. Moreover, molecular cross-talk between RANKL-RANK and other ligand-receptor systems fine-tunes bone homeostasis in normal physiology and disease. Designing novel drugs that target RANKL-RANK and their signaling pathways in osteoclasts could potentially revolutionize the treatment of many diseases associated with bone loss such as arthritis, tooth loss, cancer metastases or osteoporosis.     

LY2405319, an Engineered FGF21 Variant,Improves the Metabolic Status of Diabetic Monkeys

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a novel metabolic regulator that represents a promising target for the treatment of several metabolic diseases. Administration of recombinant wild type FGF21 to diabetic animals leads to a dramatic improvement in glycaemia and ameliorates other systemic measures of metabolic health. Here we report the pharmacologic outcomes observed in non-human primates upon administration of a recently described FGF21 analogue, LY2405319 (LY). Diabetic rhesus monkeys were treated subcutaneously with LY once daily for a period of seven weeks. The doses of LY used were 3, 9 and 50 mg/kg each delivered in an escalating fashion with washout measurements taken at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks following the final LY dose. LY therapy led to a dramatic and rapid lowering of several important metabolic parameters including glucose, body weight, insulin, cholesterol and triglyceride levels at all doses tested. In addition, we observed favorable changes in circulating profiles of adipokines, with increased adiponectin and reduced leptin indicative of direct FGF21 action on adipose tissue. Importantly, and for the first time we show that FGF21 based therapy has metabolic efficacy in an animal with late stage diabetes. While the glycemic efficacy of LY in this animal was partially attenuated its lipid lowering effect was fully preserved suggesting that FGF21 may be a viable treatment option even in patients with advanced disease progression. These findings support continued exploration of the FGF21 pathway for the treatment of metabolic disease.     

Microphthalmia (mi) mice display an aberrant bone trace element composition

It has been recognized that bone trace element composition analysis provides clues when analyzing bone-related physiological conditions. Increasing numbers of bone-related genetic diseases have been identified recently. In this study, we have analyzed bone trace element composition in a genetic mutant animal model. Mutations in the mouse microphthalmia (mi) gene affect the development of a number of cell types, including melanocytes, mast cells, and osteoclasts. Previous studies have shown that different alleles of the mi locus show osteopetrosis. In order to gain insights into the effects of a particular genetic defect on bone trace element composition and bone structure, we performed bone trace element composition analysis using inductively coupled plasma atomic emissions spectrometry (ICP-AES). Marked changes in bone trace element levels were found in vertebrate bones of mi mutant mice. The implications and possible applications of bone trace element analysis will be discussed in this article.