Fibroblast Growth
Factor-6 （FGF-6） is a cytokine belonging to the heparin-binding member of the
FGF family. Members of this family possess broad mitogenic and cell survival activities,
and are involved in a variety of biological processes, including embryonic
development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and
invasion. FGF-6 binds and signals through the FGF receptors: FGFR1 and FGFR4.
It is also required for normal muscle regeneration. In vivo high concentration
of recombinant FGF-6 up-regulates and down-regulates FGFR1 and FGFR4,
respectively, as FGFR1 promotes the proliferation while FGFR4 promotes the
differentiation in the muscle. FGF6 gene displayed oncogenic transforming
activity when transfected into mammalian cells. Despite the function in muscle
protection against mechanical damage, FGF6 overexpresses in developmental heart
and regulates osteoblasts and osteoclasts for bone remodeling.