FGF2, an Immunomodulatory Factor in Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

The fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) is a potent mitogenic factor belonging to the FGF family. It plays a role in airway remodeling associated with chronic inflammatory airway diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Recently, research interest has been raised in the immunomodulatory function of FGF2 in asthma and COPD, through its involvement in not only the regulation of inflammatory cells but also its participation as a mediator between immune cells and airway structural cells. Herein, this review provides the current knowledge on the biology of FGF2, its expression pattern in asthma and COPD patients, and its role as an immunomodulatory factor. The potential that FGF2 is involved in regulating inflammation indicates that FGF2 could be a therapeutic target for chronic inflammatory diseases.