fibroblast growth factor 8; FGF-8; androgen-induced growth factor; AIGF; heparin-binding growth factor 8; HBGF-8 (FGF8, AIGF)

Function

• role in the regulation of embryonic development, cell proliferation, cell differentiation & cell migration
  • required for normal brain, eye, ear & limb development during embryogenesis
  • required for normal development of the GnRH neuronal system
  • interacts with FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3 & FGFR4
  • affinity between fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) & their receptors is increased by heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans that function as coreceptors

Structure

• monomer, homodimer
• belongs to the heparin-binding growth factors family

Compartment

secreted

Alternative splicing

• named isoforms=4
• additional isoforms seem to exist

Expression

• in adults, expression is restricted to the gonads

Pathology

• defects in FGF8 are the cause of Kallmann syndrome type 6
• defects in FGF8 are a cause of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

More general terms

• fibroblast growth factor
• glycoprotein

Database

• Entrez gene: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=gene&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Graphics&list_uids=2253
• Kegg: http://www.genome.jp/dbget-bin/www_bget?hsa:2253
• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/146110
• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/600483
• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/612702
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P55075.html