Therapeutic uses of FGFs

Abstract

Fibroblast growth factors and their receptors regulate a wide range of biological functions from developmental processes during embryogenesis to diverse physiological roles in the adult state, including the regulation of angiogenesis, wound healing, and metabolism. Genetic defects, or dysregulated FGF signaling, result in a variety of human conditions, which in turn provides a myriad of potential opportunities for FGF-targeted therapies to treat diseases such as cancer, impaired wound healing, metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular diseases. This review summarizes some of these approaches, focusing on recombinant FGFs or FGFR fragments, small molecule inhibitors, agonistic and antagonistic antibodies, and nucleic acid based therapeutics.

Keywords: Antibody; FGF; FGFR; Kinase inhibitor; Klotho; Therapy.