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OSTEOARTHRITIS

Targeting the EGFR pathway shows promise for OA

Nature Reviews Rheumatology volume 17, page 128 (2021)Cite this article

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The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway is important for the maintenance of articular cartilage and is implicated as a potential treatment target in osteoarthritis (OA). However, studies of the effects of EGFR inhibition in models of OA have had conflicting results. New results published in Science Translational Medicine provide convincing evidence that enhancing activation of this pathway in the cartilage is a promising therapeutic strategy.

To look at the effect of EGFR overactivation in cartilage, Qin and colleagues developed two mouse models with cartilage-specific overexpression of an EGFR ligand, heparin binding EGF-like growth factor (HBEGF). In both mouse models, overactivation of the EGFR pathway protected against cartilage degeneration and other pathological changes associated with OA following surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus. Notably, treatment of the mice with an EGFR inhibitor (gefitinib) reversed these protective effects.

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References

Original article

  • Wei, Y. et al. Targeting cartilage EGFR pathway for osteoarthritis treatment. Sci. Transl Med. 13, eabb3946 (2021)

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  1. Nature Reviews Rheumatology http://www.nature.com/nrrheum/

    Jessica McHugh

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  1. Jessica McHugh
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Correspondence to Jessica McHugh.

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McHugh, J. Targeting the EGFR pathway shows promise for OA. Nat Rev Rheumatol 17, 128 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-021-00583-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-021-00583-5

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