title: A historical perspective of the EGF receptor and related systems.
abstract: Since the isolation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) from mouse submaxillary glands in the early 1950s by Cohen and coworkers, this growth factor has been shown to have various effects on numerous cellular systems. The biological and physiological role that EGF plays during development and in adult animals led to the identification of its receptor (EGFR) as well as the other members of the EGF family of growth factors and their receptors. In this chapter we provide a historical overview of the discovery of EGF, identification of the other members of EGF family, early studies on the actions of EGF, as well as the discovery and structural characterization of its receptor. Further, we have reviewed the transactivation of the EGFR by agonists for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and other extracellular stimuli unrelated to EGF-like ligands. Finally, an overview of the role of the EGFR family members in various diseases, including different forms of cancer, is provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Edwin
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Wiepz
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Chimera Rene
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Peet
authors.forename: Deepti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chaturvedi
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Bertics
authors.forename: Tarun B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism; D015688:Oncogene Protein pp60(v-src) / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016023:Integrins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D013006:Growth Hormone; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D015688:Oncogene Protein pp60(v-src)