Intranasal epidermal growth factor treatment rescues neonatal brain injury

There are no clinically relevant treatments available that improve function in the growing population of very preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation) with neonatal brain injury. Diffuse white matter injury (DWMI) is a common finding in these children and results in chronic neurodevelopmental impairments(1,2). As shown recently, failure in oligodendrocyte progenitor cell maturation contributes to DWMI(3). In a previous study, we demonstrated that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in oligodendrocyte development(4). Here, we examine whether enhanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling stimulates the endogenous response of EGFR-expressing progenitor cells during a critical period after brain injury, and promotes cellular and behavioral recovery in the developing brain. Using an established model of very preterm brain injury, we demonstrate that selective overexpression of human (h)EGFR in oligodendrocyte lineage cells or the administration of intranasal heparin binding EGF immediately after injury decreases oligodendroglia death, enhances generation of new oligodendrocytes from progenitor cells (OPCs) and promotes functional recovery. Furthermore, these interventions diminish ultrastructural abnormalities and alleviate behavioral deficits on white matter-specific paradigms. Inhibition of EGFR signaling with a molecularly targeted agent used for cancer therapy demonstrates that EGFR activation is an important contributor to oligodendrocyte regeneration and functional recovery after DWMI. Thus, our study provides direct evidence that targeting EGFR in OPCs at a specific time after injury is clinically feasible and applicable for the treatment of premature children with white matter injury.