Autism Insights

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene and Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor gene, c-Met, are proto-oncogenes which code for cell-surface tyrosine kinase receptors, EGFR and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), respectively. These membrane receptors are stimulated by ligands, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and then, through a cascade of reactions, regulate several important cell events such as growth, motility, and morphogenesis. This editorial presents a cursory look at the evidence that these proto-oncogenes, and their products, are involved in the etiology of neurobehavioral disorders, such as autism.