Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGFb) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor messenger RNA production in human lacrimal gland.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to show that basic fibroblast growth factor (FGFb) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor messenger ribonucleic acids (RNA) are produced in human lacrimal tissue. Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF beta-1) messenger RNA was not detected. These results and the previous identification of EGF in the lacrimal gland suggest that EGF could have autocrine or paracrine functions in lacrimal tissue. FGFb could also serve autocrine or paracrine functions in lacrimal gland physiology. It is also plausible that FGFb is released by the lacrimal gland into the tears and that the growth factor may have regulatory effects on the cells of the ocular surface.