Growth factors and fetal lung development mediated by mechanical forces

Figure 3 Mechanistic model. How mechanical forces promote differentiation of fetal type II epithelial cells via release of soluble growth factors heparin binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α) with subsequent binding and activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway.