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REVIEW article

Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Renal Pharmacology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1394997

Targeting the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR/ErbB) for the potential treatment of renal pathologies

Provisionally accepted
Mohamed Tawengi Mohamed Tawengi 1Yazan Al-Dali Yazan Al-Dali 1Abdelaziz Tawengi Abdelaziz Tawengi 1Ibrahim F. Benter Ibrahim F. Benter 2Saghir Akhtar Saghir Akhtar 3*
  • 1 Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
  • 2 Final International University, Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus, Cyprus
  • 3 College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is referred to as ErbB1/HER1, is the prototype of the EGFR family of receptor tyrosine kinases which also comprises ErbB2 (Neu, HER2), ErbB3 (HER3), and ErbB4 (HER4). EGFR, along with other ErbBs, is expressed in the kidney tubules and is physiologically involved in nephrogenesis and tissue repair, mainly following acute kidney injury. However, its sustained activation is linked to several kidney pathologies, including diabetic nephropathy, hypertensive nephropathy, glomerulonephritis, chronic kidney disease, and renal fibrosis. This review aims to provide a summary of the recent findings regarding the consequences of EGFR activation in several key renal pathologies. We also discuss the potential interplay between EGFR and the reno-protective angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang-(1-7), a heptapeptide member of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system that counterregulates the actions of angiotensin II. Ang-(1-7)-mediated inhibition of EGFR transactivation might represent a potential mechanism of action for its renoprotection. Our review suggests that there is a significant body of evidence supporting the potential inhibition of EGFR/ErbB, and/or administration of Ang-(1-7), as potential novel therapeutic strategies in the treatment of renal pathologies. Thus, EGFR inhibitors such as Gefitinib and Erlinotib that have an acceptable safety profile and have been clinically used in cancer chemotherapy since their FDA approval in the early 2000s, might be considered for repurposing in the treatment of renal pathologies.

    Keywords: epidermal growth factor receptor, ErbB, diabetic nephropathy, hypertensive nephropathy, Glomerulonephritis, Chronic Kidney Disease, renal fibrosis

    Received: 02 Mar 2024; Accepted: 29 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Tawengi, Al-Dali, Tawengi, Benter and Akhtar. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Saghir Akhtar, College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.