Molecular pathology of the fibroblast growth factor family

Hum Mutat. 2009 Sep;30(9):1245-55. doi: 10.1002/humu.21067.

Abstract

The human fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family contains 22 proteins that regulate a plethora of physiological processes in both developing and adult organism. The mutations in the FGF genes were not known to play role in human disease until the year 2000, when mutations in FGF23 were found to cause hypophosphatemic rickets. Nine years later, seven FGFs have been associated with human disorders. These include FGF3 in Michel aplasia; FGF8 in cleft lip/palate and in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism; FGF9 in carcinoma; FGF10 in the lacrimal/salivary glands aplasia, and lacrimo-auriculo-dento-digital syndrome; FGF14 in spinocerebellar ataxia; FGF20 in Parkinson disease; and FGF23 in tumoral calcinosis and hypophosphatemic rickets. The heterogeneity in the functional consequences of FGF mutations, the modes of inheritance, pattern of involved tissues/organs, and effects in different developmental stages provide fascinating insights into the physiology of the FGF signaling system. We review the current knowledge about the molecular pathology of the FGF family.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Multiple / genetics
  • Carcinoma / genetics
  • Carcinoma / metabolism
  • Cleft Lip / genetics
  • Cleft Lip / metabolism
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor-23
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / genetics*
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypogonadism / genetics
  • Hypogonadism / metabolism
  • Mutation*

Substances

  • FGF23 protein, human
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor-23