Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 (FGF-10) is an evolutionary conserved secreted growth factor mediating mostly mesenchymal to epithelial signaling. FGF-10 belongs to the heparin binding FGF family, and is also known as Keratinocyte Growth Factor-2 (KGF-2). It shares homology with KGF and receptor binding to FGFR2-IIIb. However, while KGF induces proliferation and differentiation of various epithelial cells, FGF-10 promotes budding and branching morphogenesis during the multi-organ development via mesenchymal-epithelial cell interactions. FGF-10 is critical for lung and limb development, and is regulated by Shh during early development.
