Effect of fibroblast growth factors 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 on avian chondrocyte proliferation.

It has been demonstrated that fibroblast growth factor receptors are key regulators of endochondral bone growth. However, it has not been determined what fibroblast growth factor ligand(s) (FGFs) are important in this process. This study sought to determine whether FGFs 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 were capable of stimulating avian chondrocyte proliferation in vitro. We have found that FGFs 2, 4, and 9 strongly stimulate avian chondrocyte proliferation while FGFs 6 and 8 stimulate proliferation to a lesser extent. RT-PCR indicates that FGF-2 and FGF-4 are expressed in the postnatal avian epiphyseal growth plate (EGP) while FGF-8 and FGF-9 are not. Thus, FGF-2 and FGF-4 stimulate chondrocyte proliferation and are both present in the EGP. This suggests that FGF-2 and FGF-4 may be important ligands, in vivo, for the regulation of endochondral bone growth. These observations coupled with our observation that multiple avian FGF receptors (Cek1, Cek2, Cek3, and FREK) are expressed in proliferative chondrocytes highlights the complexity of FGF signaling pathways in postnatal endochondral bone growth. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.