Lysophosphatidic acid and bFGF control different modes in proliferating myoblasts

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a bioactive phospholipid in serum, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) have different functions in proliferation of myoblasts. The proliferation of undifferentiated myoblasts via the activation of LPA depends on the continuos expression of MyoD. bFGF stimulates the proliferation with the suppression of MyoD expression at the mRNA level. bFGF restricts the differentiation promoted by cell-cell contact. The mitogenic and anti-differentiation activities of LPA and bFGF are similar.