FGF18 (fibroblast growth factor 18) is a member of the FGF family, and is a part of the FGF8 subfamily, which also includes FGF8 and FGF17. It is a paracrine-acting protein, and does not undergo alternative splicing. It is produced as a precursor of 207 amino acids, from which the signal peptide of 27 hydrophobic amino acids is cleaved of. This gene is localized to human chromosome 5q35.1, which produces a protein of 21.2kDa.

FGF-18 is a heparin binding growth factor, which stimulates the proliferation and activation of cells that express the FGF receptors.

FGF18 (fibroblast growth factor 18) functions in both developing and adult organisms, and plays a predominant role in skeletal development. It is a putative early marker for prostate and ovarian cancer, and has potential as a target in the same. It mediates gene profiling, and has anticatabolic effects mediated through Timp1 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases). Thus, it has confers protection on adult articular cartilage. In mice embryos, inactivation of this gene results in death due to aberrations in alveologenesis and skeleton development.

Stimulates the proliferation and activation of cells that express the FGF receptors.

Lyophilized from a 0.2 μm filtered solution in 10 mM Tris, pH 8.0 + 20mM NaCl.

The biological activity is determined by the dose-dependent stimulation of thymidine uptake by BaF3 cells expressing FGF receptors.