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Query: UNIPROT:P06889 (Mol)
 630,302 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a natural ligand for the c-met protooncogene product, has mitogenic, motogenic and morphogenic activities for various cell types and functions as a organotrophic factor for regeneration of the liver, kidney and lung. We obtained evidence that HGF may function as a novel neurotrophic factor in the central nervous system. Northern blot analysis showed that 6 kb HGF mRNA and 9 kb c-Met/HGF receptor mRNA are expressed in various regions of the adult rat brain. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that intense hybridization signals for HGF mRNA were localized in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. Consistently, specific localization of HGF protein in neurons of these regions was detected by immunohistochemical analysis and non-neuronal glial cells in cingulum, cerebellum, pons and medulla were also specifically stained. Specific intense hybridization signals for c-Met/HGF receptor mRNA were also widely distributed in the brain, including neurons of olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, primary olfactory cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. On the basis of the co-expression of HGF and c-Met/HGF receptor in hippocampal neurons, we found that HGF prolonged survival of embryonic hippocampal neurons in primary culture: HGF elicited maximal surviving effect at 0.5-1 ng/ml and the potency was comparable to that of nerve growth factor. More importantly, expression of both HGF and c-Met/HGF receptor mRNAs was markedly induced in response to cerebral ischemic injury. We propose that HGF functions as a neurotrophic factor in the central nervous system and that this neurotrophic function may have a role in the survival and reconstruction of specific neurons in response to cerebral injury.
Brain Res Mol Brain Res 1995 Sep
PMID:Localization and functional coupling of HGF and c-Met/HGF receptor in rat brain: implication as neurotrophic factor. 750 Aug 31

The pleiotropic effects (mitogenesis, motogenesis, and morphogenesis) elicited by hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) are mediated by the activation of the tyrosine kinase receptor encoded by the MET proto-oncogene. Following autophosphorylation, the receptor associates with the p85/110 phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase complex in vivo and in vitro. By a combination of two complementary approaches, competition with synthetic phosphopeptides and association with Tyr-Phe receptor mutants, we have identified Y-1349 and Y-1356 in the HGF/SF receptor as the binding sites for PI 3-kinase. Y-1349VHV and Y-1356VNV do not conform to the canonical consensus sequence YXXM for PI 3-kinase binding and thus define YVXV as a novel recognition motif. Y-1349 and Y-1356 are located within the C-terminal portion of the HGF/SF receptor and are phosphorylation sites. The affinity of the N- and C-terminal src homology region 2 (SH2) domains of p85 for the phosphopeptides including Y-1349 and Y-1356 is 2 orders of magnitude lower than that measured for Y-751 in the platelet-derived growth factor receptor binding site. However, the closely spaced duplication of the novel recognition motif in the native HGF/SF receptor may allow binding with both SH2 domains of p85, thus generating an efficient docking site for PI 3-kinase. In agreement with this model, we have observed that a phosphopeptide including both Y-1349 and Y-1356 activates PI 3-kinase in vitro.
Mol Cell Biol 1993 Aug
PMID:A novel recognition motif for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase binding mediates its association with the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor receptor. 768 41

Scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor (SF/HGF) stimulates the motility of epithelial cells, initially inducing centrifugal spreading of cell colonies followed by disruption of cell-cell junctions and subsequent cell scattering. These responses are accompanied by changes in the actin cytoskeleton, including increased membrane ruffling and lamellipodium extension, disappearance of peripheral actin bundles at the edges of colonies, and an overall decrease in stress fibers. The roles of the small GTP-binding proteins Ras, Rac, and Rho in regulating responses to SF/HGF were investigated by microinjection. Inhibition of endogenous Ras proteins prevented SF/HGF-induced actin reorganization, spreading, and scattering, whereas microinjection of activated H-Ras protein stimulated spreading and actin reorganization but not scattering. When a dominant inhibitor of Rac was injected, SF/HGF- and Ras-induced spreading and actin reorganization were prevented, although activated Rac alone did not stimulate either response. Microinjection of activated Rho inhibited spreading and scattering, while inhibition of Rho function led to the disappearance of stress fibers and peripheral bundles but did not prevent SF/HGF-induced motility. We conclude that Ras and Rac act downstream of the SF/HGF receptor p190Met to mediate cell spreading but that an additional signal is required to induce scattering.
Mol Cell Biol 1995 Feb
PMID:Regulation of scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor responses by Ras, Rac, and Rho in MDCK cells. 782 27

We sought to determine whether the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF)- and keratinocyte growth factor-receptor systems were expressed in normal breast cells, breast carcinoma cell lines, normal breast tissues, and breast cancer tissues. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and hot blotting were used to detect HGF, HGF/SF (met) receptor, KGF, and KGF receptor mRNAs in human mammary epithelial (HME) and stromal (HMS) cells. We also examined breast carcinoma (MDA-MB-157, SCC 38, and SCC 70) and spontaneously immortalized breast epithelial (HMT 3522) cell lines, as well as normal breast and breast carcinoma tissues. PCR products were also confirmed by nucleic acid sequencing. The effects of HGF and KGF, compared to EGF and heparin-binding EGF, on the proliferation of normal human mammary epithelial cells in serum-free defined medium was determined by cell counting. HGF and KGF mRNAs were detected in HMS cells, but not HME cells. KGF receptor mRNA was detected in HME cells, but not HMS cells. HGF/SF receptor mRNA was detected in both HME and HMS cells. mRNAs were also detected in normal breast and breast carcinoma tissues, as well as breast carcinoma and transformed breast epithelial cell lines. Alternative cDNA sequences that are predicted to code for a soluble KGF receptor and a membrane bound, truncated HGF/SF receptor were detected in breast epithelial cells and breast tissues. HGF and KGF maintained viability and stimulated proliferation of HME cells.
Cell Mol Biol Res 1994
PMID:Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), and their receptors in human breast cells and tissues: alternative receptors. 786 34

HGF is secreted by mesenchymal cells and regulates motogenesis, mitogenesis, and morphogenesis of epithelial and endothelial cells. HGF is a heterodimer of two glycosylated chains, alpha and beta, bound together by a disulfide bond. The molecule is synthesized as single chain precursor devoid of biological activity (pro-HGF). The critical step in pro-HGF activation is a proteolytic cleavage generating the two chain form. This step occurs in the extracellular environment, and is catalyzed by urokinase. Two alternative transcripts originate two HGF variants. One bears a deletion of five amino acids in the alpha chain, and has the same properties of the full-size protein. The other one contains only the first portion of the alpha chain (two kringle HGF). Two kringle HGF binds the HGF receptor, triggers its tyrosine kinase activity and behaves as a partial agonist, inducing motogenesis but not mitogenesis in target cells. The HGF receptor is the tyrosine kinase encoded by the c-MET pro-oncogene, a tyrosine kinase receptor. This molecule is an heterodimer of an extracellular alpha chain disulfide linked to a transmembrane beta chain. The cytoplasmic portion of the beta chain contains the catalytic domain and critical sites for the regulation of its kinase activity. In the C-terminal tail, a bidentate motif containing two tyrosines associates the transducers responsible for HGF signalling.
Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand) 1994 Jul
PMID:Hepatocyte growth factor and its receptor, the tyrosine kinase encoded by the c-MET proto-oncogene. 798 17

Scatter factor (SF), a cell motility factor with a multimodular structure, is identical to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a potent mitogen of various cell types. The receptor for SF/HGF has recently been identified as the c-Met proto-oncogene product, a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase. Depending on the target cells and culture conditions, SF/HGF has several distinct activities in vitro, i.e., it induces cell motility, proliferation, invasiveness, tubular morphogenesis, angiogenesis, or cytotoxicity. In vivo, SF/HGF might be involved in tissue regeneration, tumor progression, and embryological processes.
Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 1993 Mar
PMID:Properties and functions of scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor and its receptor c-Met. 838 6

Hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs) act on the hematopoietic cells via binding to specific cell surface receptors. Many HGF receptors have certain common structural features and have therefore been grouped in the superfamily of hematopoietin or cytokine receptors, also referred to as the class I receptor superfamily [1, 2]. Activation of these receptors by their cognate growth factors is mediated through the formation of dimeric or oligomeric complexes of receptor structures. Some HGF receptors are composed of heteromeric complexes, comprising two or three different receptor chains. For instance, this is the case for receptors of interleukins 2, 3, and 5 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor [3]. Other receptor structures, for example, those of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and erythropoietin, form homodimeric complexes upon growth factor binding [2, 4]. This brief overview begins with an introduction of the major principles of HGF receptor signaling: this is followed by a discussion of the consequences of HGF receptor signaling defects for the development of disorders of the hematopoietic system and the presentation of clinical examples of such diseases.
J Mol Med (Berl) 1997 Jul
PMID:Molecular understanding of hematopoietin/cytokine receptor signaling defects in hematopoietic disorders. 925 10

Neuregulin, or neu differentiation factor, induces cell proliferation or differentiation through interaction with members of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases. We report that neuregulin can also induce profound morphogenic responses in cultured epithelial cells of different origins. These effects include scattering of small epithelial islands and rearrangement of larger cell islands into ordered ring-shaped arrays with internal lumens. The ring-forming cells are interconnected by cadherin- and beta-catenin-containing adherens junctions. In confluent cultures, neuregulin treatment induces formation of circular lumenlike gaps in the monolayer. Both cell scattering and ring formation are accompanied by a marked increase in cell motility that is independent of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor and its receptor (c-Met). Affinity-labeling experiments implied that a combination of ErbB-2 with ErbB-3 mediates the morphogenic signal of neuregulin in gastric cells. Indeed, a similar morphogenic effect could be reconstituted in nonresponsive cells by coexpression of ErbB-2 and -3. We conclude that a heterodimer between the kinase-defective neuregulin receptor, ErbB-3, and the coreceptor, ErbB-2, mediates the morphogenetic action of neuregulin.
Mol Biol Cell 1998 Nov
PMID:Morphogenetic effects of neuregulin (neu differentiation factor) in cultured epithelial cells. 980 6

This study examined the effects of matrix-embedded human fibroblasts, a predominant cell type in the injured tissue, on the tissue expansion and angiogenesis. Using a co-culture technique, it was demonstrated that the presence of matrix-embedded fibroblasts (Dermagraft) significantly enhanced the expansion of human wound tissue in a 3D gel system over a period of 10 days. Using a rat aorta ring assay, fibroblasts also significantly stimulated the growth of new vessels from the ring and also enhanced the motility of human vascular endothelial cells. This effect of fibroblasts was neutralised with anti-HGF/SF antibody. HGF/SF protein was detected in both supernatant and cell lysate of the fibroblasts by bioassay and Western blotting, mRNA for HGF/SF was detected in the fibroblasts by RT-PCR. HGF/SF secreted by the fibroblast was able to stimulate the phosphorylation of cMET, HGF/SF receptor. It is thus concluded that matrix embedded fibroblasts are capable of stimulating wound healing and this effect is attributed to HGF/SF, produced by the cell.
Int J Mol Med 1998 Aug
PMID:Enhancement of wound tissue expansion and angiogenesis by matrix-embedded fibroblast (dermagraft), a role of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor. 985 89

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a multifunctional cytokine which is believed to have important roles in tissue development and regeneration, and tumor progression. It is indistinguishable from scatter factor (SF), a motility factor. HGF/SF is believed to be a mesenchymal cell-derived cytokine acting for epithelial cells bearing its receptor tyrosine kinase, c-Met. Recently, we found that glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a highly malignant brain tumor of astrocytic origin, concomitantly express HGF/SF and c-Met. This finding indicates a presence of autocrine loop of HGF/SF signaling pathway in GBM. Moreover, GBM cells also co-express HGF activator, a recently identified serine proteinase having efficient HGF/SF activating activity. The expression of HGF/SF and c-Met was low or hardly detectable in low-grade astrocytoma, and c-Met immunoreactivity was correlated with the histological grade of the tumor suggesting that the creation of HGF/SF autocrine loop occurs along with the progression of astrocytic brain tumors. Experimental evidence indicated that HGF/SF exhibits potent migration/invasion-inducing activity for GBM cells bearing c-Met receptor. It is also a significant angiogenesis factor in GBM, and may serve as a cellular growth factor for certain GBM cells. These lines of evidence suggest that HGF/SF signaling pathway may serve as a promising new target of therapeutic intervention of GBM.
Int J Mol Med 1999 May
PMID:Expression of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor and its receptor c-Met in brain tumors: evidence for a role in progression of astrocytic tumors (Review). 1020 87


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