Abstract
The skin constitutes an innate immunity barrier against surrounding microbes. This barrier is disrupted when wounding/injury occurs. The subsequent wound healing is divided broadly into the overlapping stages of coagulation, inflammation, proliferation and tissue remodeling. The EGF receptor (EGFR) is activated after cutaneous injury. This review highlights the role of the EGFR in the innate immune defense of the cutaneous wound. Activation of the EGFR establishes one of the molecular links between injury and the subsequent neutrophil influx, expression of antimicrobial (poly)peptides and the re-establishment of the physical barrier.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
This work was supported by grants from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, The Swedish Research Council, The Alfred Österlund Foundation, Clas Groshinkys Memorial Foundation, The Åke Wiberg Foundation, The Royal Physiographic Society in Lund, The Swedish Medical Society, The Crafoord Foundation, The Harald Jeansson Foundation, and Harald and Greta Jeansson Foundation. OES. is a recipient of a research fellowship from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.