The effect of recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor rhFGF-2 on human osteoblast in growth and phenotype expression.

This paper describes the studies of human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor (rhFGF-2) for its effects on human osteoblast growth and phenotype expression. During a 24-h period of treatment, rhFGF-2 highly stimulated DNA synthesis in a dose-related fashion with a maximum stimulation of 150% for 1 ng/ml. On the other hand, rhFGF-2 decreases alkaline phosphatase activity, synthesis of type I collagen, and cumulative amount of osteocalcin. Moreover, rhFGF-2 provoked a threefold increase in the amount of intracellular cAMP. Scatchard plots show the presence of two classes of [125I] rhFGF-2 receptors. This data suggests that rhFGF-2 which stimulate cell replication may act indirectly as an anabolic agent and stimulate some of the phenotypic expression markers.