Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) is a type I transmembrane protein expressed by a variety of cells, which acts as a potent stimulator and regulator of the proliferation of epidermal and epithelial cells, and is a key factor in cell survival.
EGF is a magnesiotropic hormone involved in the regulation of renal magnesium reabsorption via activation of the magnesium permeable channel TRPM6 (Muallem and Moe 2007).
The effects of EGF are initiated through tyrosine kinase activity, following the binding of EGF to the extracellular domain of the EGF receptor (EGFR), which results in the triggering of several signal transduction pathways, including the JAK/STAT and P13K/AKT pathways.