Fibroblast Growth Factor-9 Activates c-Kit Progenitor Cells and Enhances Angiogenesis in the Infarcted Diabetic Heart

The 2015 study found that Fibroblast Growth Factor-9 (FGF-9) plays a significant role in heart repair after a heart attack, particularly in diabetic conditions. FGF-9 was used to activate c-Kit progenitor cells, leading to enhanced angiogenesis, or the formation of new blood vessels, in damaged heart tissue. The results showed that FGF-9 treatment significantly reduced vascular cell death and increased the activation of c-Kit progenitor cells, leading to their differentiation into vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. This resulted in more new vessels in the heart and improved cardiac function in both diabetic and non-diabetic mice after a heart attack. These findings suggest potential therapeutic benefits of FGF-9 for heart repair following a heart attack in both diabetic and non-diabetic conditions.