Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) is a term used in biology and medicine to refer to a specific group of cell surface receptors that play a crucial role in various cellular processes, particularly in the regulation of cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, and survival. FGFRs are a family of transmembrane proteins that interact with fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), which are protein molecules released by cells to stimulate cell growth and development.
These receptors consist of an extracellular ligand-binding domain, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular domain responsible for signal transduction. Upon binding to FGFs, FGFRs undergo a conformational change, leading to the activation of their intracellular domain, which then initiates a complex signal transduction cascade within the cell. This cascade involves the activation of various downstream signaling pathways, such as the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway.
FGFRs are known to be crucial in embryonic development, tissue repair, and maintenance of various organ systems, including bone, brain, lung, and blood vessels. Dysregulation or mutations in FGFR genes have been implicated in a wide range of diseases, including cancer, skeletal dysplasias, and craniosynostosis syndromes. Therefore, understanding the biology and function of FGFRs is of paramount importance in biomedical research and may lead to the development of novel therapeutic interventions targeting these receptors.
