该基因编码的蛋白是成纤维细胞生长因子（fgf）家族的一员。fgf家族成员具有广泛的有丝分裂和细胞存活活性，参与胚胎发育、细胞生长、形态发生、组织修复、肿瘤生长和侵袭等多种生物学过程。这种蛋白是一种有效的上皮细胞特异性生长因子，其有丝分裂活性主要表现在角质形成细胞中，而在成纤维细胞和内皮细胞中则没有。小鼠和大鼠对该基因同源性的研究表明，该基因在上皮细胞形态发生、伤口再上皮化、毛发发育和早期肺器官形成中具有重要作用。[由RefSeq提供，2008年7月]
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members possess broad mitogenic and cell survival activities, and are involved in a variety of biological processes, including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. This protein is a potent epithelial cell-specific growth factor, whose mitogenic activity is predominantly exhibited in keratinocytes but not in fibroblasts and endothelial cells. Studies of mouse and rat homologs of this gene implicated roles in morphogenesis of epithelium, reepithelialization of wounds, hair development and early lung organogenesis. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]