FGFRreceptorer

FGFRreceptorer, or fibroblast growth factor receptors, are a family of transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinases. There are four main subtypes: FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3, and FGFR4. These receptors play a critical role in a wide range of cellular processes, including cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, migration, and survival.

The ligands for FGFRs are fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), a large family of secreted signaling proteins. Upon binding of an FGF ligand to its cognate FGFR, the receptor dimerizes and undergoes autophosphorylation. This activation triggers downstream signaling cascades, such as the RAS/MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and PLCγ pathways, which ultimately regulate gene expression and cellular responses.

FGFRs are expressed in various tissues throughout the body and are essential for normal development and tissue homeostasis. Dysregulation of FGFR signaling, often due to mutations in the receptor genes or alterations in FGF ligand levels, is implicated in numerous diseases. These include various cancers, where FGFRs can act as oncogenes promoting tumor growth and metastasis, and developmental disorders such as achondroplasia, a common form of dwarfism caused by a mutation in FGFR3. Therapeutic strategies targeting FGFR signaling are being developed for both cancer and other conditions.