Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a therapeutic target in rheumatoid arthritis

• Published in: Clinical rheumatology Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 289 - 292
• Main Authors: Yuan, Feng-Lai, Li, Xia, Lu, Wei-Guo, Sun, Jun-Ming, Jiang, Dong-Lin, Xu, Rui-Sheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer-Verlag 01.03.2013
• Subjects: Antirheumatic Agents - pharmacology; Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - pathology; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - physiopathology; Cell Proliferation; Cytokines - metabolism; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - drug effects; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - physiology; Review Article; Rheumatology; Synovial Membrane - metabolism; Synovial Membrane - pathology; Rheumatoid arthritis; Inflammation; Epidermal growth factor receptor
• ISSN: 0770-3198; 1434-9949
• DOI: 10.1007/s10067-012-2119-9

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has an important role in the hyperplastic growth of tumor. Similar to tumor growth, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium is hyperplastic, invasive, and expresses EGFR and its ligands. Activation of EGFR signaling is responsible for synovial fibroblast proliferation in RA. Furthermore, in addition to its role in proliferation, EGFR and its ligands can induce cytokine production of synovial fibroblasts during the pathogenesis of RA. Agents that target EGFR have yielded promising results in animal experiments involving RA, pharmacologic modulations targeting EGFR, or its ligands may give rise to new therapeutic approaches for RA. In this review article, we will discuss the biological features of EGFR and summarize recent advances regarding the role of EGFR in the pathogenesis and treatment of RA.