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Antibody and EGFR–STAT1 pathway point to new fibrosis treatments — Level A2 — a close up of a red flower

Antibody and EGFR–STAT1 pathway point to new fibrosis treatmentsCEFR A2

25 Nov 2025

Adapted from Yale, Futurity CC BY 4.0

Photo by Ian Talmacs, Unsplash

Level A2 – High beginner / Elementary
2 min
106 words

Fibrotic diseases cause harmful scar tissue in skin and organs. Researchers at Yale made a human monoclonal antibody that targets epiregulin, a molecule that binds the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Earlier work showed epiregulin was higher in skin from people with scleroderma.

The team compared single-cell RNA data from scleroderma and fibrotic graft-versus-host disease and found epiregulin was upregulated. They tested the antibody in humanized mice and in patient skin biopsies. Inhibiting epiregulin reduced biomarkers linked to fibrosis. A separate study showed more STAT1 activity in fibroblasts from fibrotic diseases. The researchers plan to test the therapy in lupus and hidradenitis suppurativa.

Difficult words

  • researcherA person who studies something carefully.
    Researchers
  • treatTo help someone become healthy or better.
    treating
  • diseaseAn illness that affects the body.
    diseases
  • therapyA treatment to help someone feel better.
  • moleculeA very small part of a substance.
  • scarringThe marks left on skin after an injury.
  • fibrosisA condition where thick tissue forms in the body.

Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.

Discussion questions

  • What do you think about the importance of research in medicine?
  • How might antibody therapy change treatments for diseases?
  • Why is it important to develop better treatments for fibrotic diseases?

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