Characterization of a new endothelial cell growth factor (f-ECGF) partially purified from the supernatant of human fibroblast cells.

A new endothelial cell growth factor (f-ECGF) was partially purified from the cultured medium of human fibroblast cells of embryonic lungs. The partially purified f-ECGF induced neovascularization in rabbit cornea. It showed a selective growth stimulatory activity on the endothelial cells in vitro, whereas acidic- and basic-fibroblast growth factors (a- and b-FGFs) showed a broad spectrum of growth stimulation among tissues or cells. f-ECGF did not compete with the binding of a-FGF to the cell surface receptor in HEP-G2 hepatoblastoma cell lines. These results indicated that f-ECGF is a new endothelial cell growth factor distinct from a- and b-FGFs which are known to be potent endothelial cell growth factors.