The role of epidermal growth factor in mucus production.
Airway hypersecretion is a serious and presently untreatable symptom of chronic inflammatory airway diseases. Recently, it has been discovered that epithelial growth factor receptor expression and activation causes mucin production in airways. An epithelial growth factor receptor pathway is implicated in mucus cell differentiation induced by various stimuli; therefore, inhibition of the epithelial growth factor receptor transduction cascade may provide effective new treatments for hypersecretory airway diseases.
Nadel
J A
JA
Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 94143-0130, USA. janadel@itsa.ucsf.edu
Burgel
P R
PR
D000485:Allergens / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009077:Mucins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009093:Mucus / Q000502:physiology*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
D000485:Allergens; D009077:Mucins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors