[Fibroblast growth factors (a short review)]

Some features of structure and expression of bFGF gene and FGF receptors genes, unique secretion property of bFGF, as well as FGF's interactions with heparin-containing components of the cell and extracellular matrix are briefly observed. These special features may underlie the multifunctionality of members of ubiquitously distributed fibroblast growth factor family which recently have been filled up with two new members: androgen-induced growth factor--FGF-8 (Tanaka A., Miyamoto K., Minamino N. at al., 1992) and glia-activating factor--FGF-9 (Naruo K., Seco C., Kuroshima K. at al. 1993).