[Epidermal growth factor: a probable oral and digestive health protector]

Pathol Biol (Paris). 2002 Dec;50(10):608-12. doi: 10.1016/s0369-8114(02)00357-7.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The integrity of oral and digestive mucosa depend on many salivary components like the Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF). Sometimes indicative, sometimes stimulated or modulated factor of oral and digestive health, EGF appears as a clinical marker in neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. As cellular growth factor, it protects the digestive mucosa with stimulation of mucus production and with inhibition of gastric secretion. Equally implicated in healing process, it enhances this one, and determines, in patients, more or less sensibility to inflammatory damages. Its strategic place in various pathologies, as stomach ulcer and tumoral process, open research prospects with a real potential of repair and pronostic.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers
  • Digestive System Physiological Phenomena*
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / physiology*
  • Gastric Mucosa / physiology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation
  • Intestinal Mucosa / physiology
  • Mouth Mucosa / physiology*
  • Neoplasms

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Epidermal Growth Factor