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What is EGF?
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a small protein that plays an important role in cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. It is found naturally in various body fluids and tissues including saliva, blood, and the submandibular glands. EGF works by activating the EGF receptor on the surface of cells, triggering signaling pathways inside the cell that stimulate growth and division.
Producing Recombinant EGF
To generate sufficient quantities of pure EGF for biomedical research and potential therapeutic applications, recombinant DNA technology is used to produce it in other organisms. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the most common production system as they can express, fold, and secrete human proteins properly. The gene coding for human EGF is isolated and transfected into the CHO cells along with a selectable marker. Cells that incorporate the gene are selected and cloned to generate a stable cell line capable of long-term EGF production.
The EGF-expressing CHO cells are then cultured at large scale in bioreactors containing specialized nutrient media. As the cells divide and multiply, they continuously secrete recombinant human EGF (rhEGF) into the surrounding media. The culture media is harvested periodically and the rhEGF is purified using chromatography techniques that separate it from other proteins. Multiple steps such as ion exchange, affinity, and size-exclusion chromatography allow pure rhEGF to be isolated for further use in research and medical applications.
Medical Uses of rhEGF
RhEGF has many potential clinical applications due to its ability to stimulate cell growth and proliferation. Some current and emerging uses of rhEGF include:
Wound Healing – Topical application of rhEGF has been shown to accelerate wound healing in skin ulcers, burns, and surgical incisions. Its mitogenic effects help re-epithelialization and regeneration of tissues damaged by injury or disease. rhEGF dressings and creams are approved treatments to heal chronic wounds and speed recovery.
Hair Regeneration – Low levels of endogenous EGF in the skin are associated with baldness and scalp diseases like alopecia. Clinical trials found that repeated scalp injections of rhEGF can help induce new hair follicle formation and promote hair growth in balding or thinning areas. This represents a promising future therapy for androgenic alopecia and other types of hair loss.
Gastrointestinal Disorders – EGF plays an important protective role in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. For conditions involving injury and inflammation like inflammatory bowel disease, rhEGF supplements given orally or rectally can help induce mucosal healing and reduce symptoms. Further research is ongoing into its potential use to treat gastric ulcers, intestinal damage, and necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants.
Lung Injuries – The mitogenic activity of EGF helps repair and regenerate epithelial linings throughout the body. Studies indicate rhEGF may find application in acute lung injuries from mechanical ventilation, smoke inhalation, or other causes by promoting alveolar type II cell proliferation and re-epithelialization of impaired airways. It shows promise to accelerate recovery from respiratory distress syndrome.
Future Prospects
With further refinement of rhEGF production methods and an improved understanding of its mechanisms of action, new applications are on the horizon. Researchers continue investigating its potential benefits for conditions like corneal epithelial defects, radiation-induced mucositis, and repair of cartilage or other connective tissues. Combination therapies using rhEGF with other growth factors, stem cells, or scaffolds may provide even more effective tissue regeneration strategies. As the biotechnology industry advances and rhEGF becomes more widely available at lower costs, many more clinical applications are expected to emerge. Looking forward, rhEGF produced through recombinant methods has great promise to positively impact public health through enhanced wound healing, tissue restoration, and treatment of serious injuries or disease states.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile
