Basic fibroblast growth factor: a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of acute neurodegenerative disorders and vascular insufficiency

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Abstract
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a polypeptide widely distributed throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral tissues. It has potent trophic effects on cellular proliferation, differentiation, embryogenesis and extracellular matrix formation and these effects are mediated by complex signal transduction cascades that vary by cell type. The intracellular and extracellular release and expression of bFGF increases in response to ischaemia and CNS injury and bFGF demonstrates potent neuroprotective activity in a wide variety of in vitro models of cell death. bFGF has also been found to provide significant neuroprotective efficacy in both focal and global ischaemia models in a number of species as well as in rat models of brain and spinal trauma. There is emerging evidence that bFGF enhances functional recovery in both ischaemia and brain trauma models following delayed administration. bFGF also increases blood flow in experimental models of vascular insufficiency which relate to peripheral vascular and coronary artery disease. While the mechanisms by which bFGF exerts these beneficial effects in experimental disease models in the CNS and cardiovascular system are not fully known, it is clear this trophic factor holds great promise as a potential therapeutic agent.

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