RGD Reference Report - Epidermal growth factor receptor activation: an upstream signal for transition of quiescent astrocytes into reactive astrocytes after neural injury. - Rat Genome Database

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Epidermal growth factor receptor activation: an upstream signal for transition of quiescent astrocytes into reactive astrocytes after neural injury.

Authors: Liu, B  Chen, H  Johns, TG  Neufeld, AH 
Citation: Liu B, etal., J Neurosci. 2006 Jul 12;26(28):7532-40.
RGD ID: 1581900
Pubmed: PMID:16837601   (View Abstract at PubMed)
PMCID: PMC6674203   (View Article at PubMed Central)
DOI: DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1004-06.2006   (Journal Full-text)

Modulating the behaviors of reactive astrocytes is a potential therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases. We found that upregulation and activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) occur in astrocytes after different injuries in optic nerves in vivo. Activation of EGFR regulates genes and cellular processes representing most major markers of reactive astrocytes and genes related with glaucomatous optic neuropathy and other neural disorders. These results suggest that activation of EGFR is a common, regulatory pathway that triggers quiescent astrocytes into reactive astrocytes in response to neural injuries in the optic nerve, and perhaps other parts of the CNS. Targeting EGFR activation using an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor prevents the loss of retinal ganglion cells in a model of glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Because these inhibitors are currently used clinically, our results present an approach to reactive astrocytes as a potential new target for the treatment of neurodegenerations.

Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Biological Process
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
astrocyte activation  IMP 1581900 RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Egfr  (epidermal growth factor receptor)


Additional Information