Synchronized induction in bFGF and Cdk2 during gastric ulcer healing.

The processes of gastric mucosal repair are regulated by growth factors triggering the signals for cell cycle progression. We examined the expression of gastric mucosal basic fibroblast factor (bFGF) and cyclin dependent kinase (p34Cdk2) at different stages of chronic ulcer healing. The results of assays revealed that ulcer healing was accompanied by an increase in mucosal expression of bFGF and Cdk2. A significant induction in bFGF and Cdk2 occurred by the 2nd day of ulcer healing, reached the respective maximums of 2.3- and 2.2-fold increase by the 4th day of healing, and remained still elevated (20%) on the 14th day when the ulcer was essentially healed. The results demonstrate a synchronized induction in bFGF and cell cycle regulatory kinase, Cdk2, with ulcer healing.