HBEGF and sarcoidosis: Interrogation of specific up-regulated genes that link to sarcoidosis severity identified the HBEGF gene as differentially expressed in sarcoidosis compared to healthy controls and accurately discriminated subjects with limited sarcoidosis from subjects with progressive lung sarcoidosis (2), HBEGF encodes HBEGF (heparin-binding epidermal growth factor), a member of the EGF growth factor family expressed in the bronchial epithelium, smooth muscle, CD4 + T cells, and cardiac muscle.