The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) in Fetal Development, Cancer, and Vascular Diseases
EGFR is critical to the development of organs including the lung in the healthy fetus. It plays an important role in precisely regulated cell growth and differentiation in the developing embryo. Later in life, excess abdominal fat increases angiotensin II and aldosterone leading to increased oxidant production which activates EGFR. Cigarette smoke persistently activates EGFR. Excess, chaotic EGFR production plays a key role in lung cancer progression and chemotherapy resistance. EGFR blockers are used in chemotherapy for various malignancies.
This same signaling promotes insulin resistance and resistant hypertension development. Aldosterone increases oxidant production and inflammation. This increase in oxidants and inflammation contributes to resistance to insulin effects, along with decreased nitric oxide production and impaired arterial dilation. Increased aldosterone and ang II lead directly increased oxidant production, EGFR activation, along with damage to the heart, kidney and other organs. Normal genes that are essential for fetal development become much less active in healthy young adults only to be reactivated later in life by abdominal fat and tobacco smoke. That is why blocking the signaling from those genes with optimal medical therapy is so much more effective than usual care.
As a "recovering" hypochondriac, I enjoy reading your daily reports. I see my personal health history in them. First, I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes 27 years ago. I was stunned by the diagnosis in that for my height (6'2") I was relatively thin (195 or so). BUT, I had a gut that I noticed in photos of myself. Then, 22 years ago, I was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma. FInally, about three years ago, I was diagnosed with CKD.
About that time, I was prescribed to take Invokana and Trulicity. Then, the pandemic hit and I started playing tennis at least 5 days a week. Along with the Invokana and Trulicity, I lost 30 pounds, so now I'm 162#'s...and my gut is gone (mostly). And, I'm still playing at least three days a week (more as soon as it warms up).
My point being that the OMT for treating diabetes which includes treating for CKD and heart disease works at least anecdotally in my case as my numbers are working! I've been prescribed the right drugs before I ever knew of the OMT which makes me comfortable when reading your posts.
Thank you for them!