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Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor and fibroblast growth factor receptor genes in cultured rat aortic
J W van Neck1, J J Medina, C Onnekink
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) exerts a differential effect on DNA synthesis, bFGF mRNA synthesis, and expression of FGF-receptor genes by cultured smooth muscle cells from aortae of newborn and adult rats (used as a model in atherosclerosis research). Cells from adult animals, are more sensitive to bFGF, and bFGF triggers its own mRNA synthesis. Moreover, the level of the transcript of the FGFR-1 gene (coding for the most abundant FGF-receptor in smooth muscle cells) is higher in smooth muscle cells from adult rats. In contrast, the FGFR-3 gene only is expressed in smooth muscle cells from newborn rats. Crosslinking of [125I]bFGF to its receptor showed 130 kDa and 160 kDa complexes both in newborn and adult smooth muscle cells.