Fibroblast Growth Factor-basic (FGF-basic), also known as FGF-2, is a pleiotropic cytokine and one of the prototypic members of the heparin-binding FGF family. Like other FGF family members, FGF-basic has the β trefoil structure. In vivo, FGF-basic is produced by a variety of cells, including cardiomycotes, fibroblasts, and vascular cells. FGF-basic regulates a variety of processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, adhesion, motility, apoptosis, limb formation and wound healing. FGF-basic can be tumorigenic due to its role in angiogenesis and blood vessel remodeling. The angiogenic effects of FGF-basic can produce beneficial cardioprotection during acute heart injury.
Recombinant bovine Fibroblast Growth Factor-basic (rbFGF-basic) produced in E. coli is a single non-glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 146 amino acids. A fully biologically active molecule, rbFGF-basic has a molecular mass of 16.4 kDa analyzed by reducing SDS-PAGE and is obtained by proprietary chromatographic techniques at ExCell Bio.