What Is a Fibroblast Growth Factor?
Fibroblasts are a type of stem cell that is responsible for helping to create connective tissues. A fibroblast growth factor is a special type of protein that was first found to influence the activity and differentiation of fibroblasts. It has since been discovered that these same regulatory proteins can be found acting on other cells as well. Various types of fibroblast growth factor are instrumental during embryonic development but are also active in the adult. These growth factors may be useful in treating some disorders such as autism. Bovine colostrum supplements contain some amount of fibroblast growth factor, but the potential benefits have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The activities that the fibroblast growth factor family was first named for include stimulating fibroblasts to go through mitosis, thus replicating more frequently, and causing fibroblasts to differentiate into specific mature cell types. The mature cells excrete substances used to
