FGF10: A multifunctional mesenchymal–epithelial signaling growth factor in development, health, and disease

• The FGF family comprises 22 members with diverse functions in development and health.
• FGF10, which is a mesenchymal signaling molecule in the epithelium, is essential for the development of multiple organs.
• FGF10 also plays roles in epithelial–mesenchymal transition, the repair of tissue injury, and embryonic stem cell differentiation.
• In humans, FGF10 mutations result in inherited diseases.
• FGF10 is also involved in the oncogenicity of cancers.
• These findings indicate that FGF10 is a crucial paracrine signal for development, health, and disease.

The FGF family comprises 22 members with diverse functions in development and health. FGF10 specifically activates FGFR2b in a paracrine manner with heparan sulfate as a co-factor. FGF10and FGFR2b are preferentially expressed in the mesenchyme and epithelium, respectively. FGF10 is a mesenchymal signaling molecule in the epithelium. FGF10 knockout mice die shortly after birth due to the complete absence of lungs as well as fore- and hindlimbs. FGF10 is also essential for the development of multiple organs. The phenotypes of Fgf10 knockout mice are very similar to those of FGFR2b knockout mice, indicating that FGF10 acts as a ligand that is specific to FGFR2b in mouse multi-organ development. FGF10 also plays roles in epithelial–mesenchymal transition, the repair of tissue injury, and embryonic stem cell differentiation. In humans, FGF10 loss-of-function mutations result in inherited diseases including aplasia of lacrimal and salivary gland, lacrimo-auriculo-dento-digital syndrome, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. FGF10 is also involved in the oncogenicity of pancreatic and breast cancers. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in FGF10 are also potential risk factors for limb deficiencies, cleft lip and palate, and extreme myopia. These findings indicate that FGF10 is a crucial paracrine signal from the mesenchyme to epithelium for development, health, and disease.