Fibroblast Growth Factor 4 (FGF4) is a member of the FGF family, which regulates cellular processes like proliferation, differentiation, and angiogenesis. FGF4 plays critical roles in embryonic development, tissue repair, and disease progression, including cancer. Antibodies targeting FGF4 are essential tools for detecting and quantifying this protein in research and diagnostics. They enable studies on FGF4's expression patterns, signaling mechanisms, and interactions with FGF receptors (FGFRs), particularly in contexts like embryogenesis, organogenesis, and tumorigenesis.
FGF4 antibodies are widely used in techniques such as Western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and ELISA to investigate its role in developmental disorders, cancer metastasis, and regenerative processes. For example, aberrant FGF4 expression is linked to certain cancers (e.g., gastric, sarcoma) and congenital conditions, making these antibodies valuable for mechanistic studies. Monoclonal antibodies offer high specificity for research applications, while polyclonal variants may capture broader epitopes. Validation steps, including knockout controls and cross-reactivity tests, ensure reliability.
Therapeutic potential is also emerging, with FGF4-targeting antibodies explored for blocking oncogenic signaling or modulating tissue regeneration. However, challenges like off-target effects and bioavailability require further optimization. Overall, FGF4 antibodies remain pivotal in advancing both basic research and clinical translation.