Epiregulin-blocking antibody inhibits epiregulin-dependent EGFR signaling.

Mariko Iijima, Motonobu Anai, Tatsuhiko Kodama, Yoshikazu Shibasaki

Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2017 Jul 15

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The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a receptor tyrosine kinase involved in many cellular functions including cell growth and migration. EGFR may be activated by EGF family ligands such as EGF and epiregulin (EREG). EREG is overexpressed in human colon and breast cancers, implying that EREG plays roles in tumorigenesis. Although EGF family members share a receptor, it is not well known whether their signaling pathways differ. In order to investigate EREG signaling, we established the anti-EREG antibody that inhibits EGFR downstream signaling stimulated by EREG but not by EGF. While the anti-EREG antibody has little effect on cell growth, it inhibits cell adhesion of EREG-expressing autocrine cancer cell lines. Our results suggest that anti-EREG antibodies represent valuable tools for elucidating EREG-specific signaling pathways, and may serve as therapeutic candidates for the treatment of cancers. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Citation

Mariko Iijima, Motonobu Anai, Tatsuhiko Kodama, Yoshikazu Shibasaki. Epiregulin-blocking antibody inhibits epiregulin-dependent EGFR signaling. Biochemical and biophysical research communications. 2017 Jul 15;489(1):83-88