Description
FGF-4 (Fibroblast Growth Factor-4), also known as FGF-K and K-FGF, is a secreted angiogenic factor that is mitogenic for fibroblasts and endothelial cells. During development, it is required for maintenance of the trophoectoderm and primitive endoderm, and it cooperates with FGF-8 in the apical ectodermal ridge. FGF-4 promotes embryonic stem cell proliferation and may also aid stem cell differentiation. A C-terminally truncated 15 kDa isoform that opposes full-length FGF-4 and promotes differentiation is endogenously expressed in human embryonic stem cells