Acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) belongs to the fibroblast growth factor family. It is a potent mitogenic agent. aFGF has been detected in large amounts in the brain. Other cells known to express FGF acidic include hepatocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, CNS neurons, skeletal muscle cells, fibroblasts, keratinocytes, endothelial cells, intestinal columnar epithelium cells and pituitary basophils and acidophils.