ABSTRACT
Growth factors have significant roles in development of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, as well as in maintenance and response to injury. Various in vitro, in vivo, and human experiments have been used to demonstrate growth factor influence on GI tract function and development. These studies have been able to successfully illustrate the influence of growth factors on mucosal proliferation, intestinal motility, immune modulation, decreased apoptosis, enhanced gut barrier function, and enteric nervous system (ENS) protection. Selected growth factors have been shown to offer beneficial effects in many forms of intestinal injury, including necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Specifically, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) have been able to show beneficial effects in experimental and clinical intestinal injury, including necrotizing enterocolitis. Other growth factors, including granulocyte colony–stimulating factor (GCSF), intestinal trefoil factor (TTF3 or ITF), and erythropoietin (EPO), have been investigated and have shown some promise as potential therapeutics for NEC; however, further investigation is necessary. The roles of these growth factors will be summarized in this chapter.
