Disease relevance of FGF4

• During a search for transforming genes by transfecting a human cDNA expression library together with calf thymus carrier-DNA into NIH/3T3 cells, we found a focus which was induced by a plasmid containing a sequence highly homologous to human HST (a transforming gene from Human STomach cancer) [1].

High impact information on FGF4

• The main finding was that endogenous PRL and GH maintained progesterone secretion in HST heifers in a similar manner to that in SOC throughout pregnancy [2].
• The second finding was that parturition and lactation occurred in HST heifers with calf delivery induced to occur at the same time as SOC [2].
• Milk production in HST animals was severely limited, and postpartum estrus obliterated compared with SOC [2].
• Although HST reduced PRL secretion, it did not abolish the effect of seasonal changes (P < 0.01); circulating PRL concentration increased six-fold by shifts in photoperiod and temperature from winter to summer in these stalk-transected calves [3].
• Heparan sulfate proteoglycan increases inner cell mass numbers and this may be due to interactions with the growth factors fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF-4) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor [4].

Other interactions of FGF4

• PRL remained low in both HST and SOC groups for three months after surgery [3].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of FGF4

• Using RT-PCR techniques we have previously detected the aberrant expression of FGF4, FGFr2 and IL6 in a significant proportion of bovine granulosa cell-derived nuclear transfer embryos, which correlated with a limited developmental potential in vivo [5].

References