Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor (hepatocyte + growth_factor_receptor)

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Selected Abstracts


Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor, c-Met, in Human Embryo Salivary Glands.

ANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 3 2010
An Immunohistochemical Study
With 3 figures and 1 table Summary Salivary gland morphogenesis involves complex, coordinated events that include epithelial,mesenchymal interactions. Mesenchymal,epithelial transition factor (c-Met) is the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor. The latter is a hepatotropic factor originally identified in rat serum and platelets. It is essential in fetal tissue development, where it regulates complex morphogenetic processes including extracellular matrix invasion, cell migration, cell polarization and tubulogenesis. The c-Met/HGF system is believed to participate in epithelial,mesenchymal interactions during development. Twelve human embryonic minor salivary glands were studied by immunohistochemistry to investigate the role of c-Met in human salivary gland development. Strong c-Met immunopositivity in the glands demonstrated that the molecule is involved in their development and suggested a role for the c-Met/HGF system in this process. [source]


Src and FAK mediate cell,matrix adhesion-dependent activation of met during transformation of breast epithelial cells

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2009
Angela Y. Hui
Abstract Cell,matrix adhesion has been shown to promote activation of the hepatocyte growth factor receptor, Met, in a ligand-independent manner. This process has been linked to transformation and tumorigenesis in a variety of cancer types. In the present report, we describe a key role of integrin signaling via the Src/FAK axis in the activation of Met in breast epithelial and carcinoma cells. Expression of an activated Src mutant in non-neoplastic breast epithelial cells or in carcinoma cells was found to increase phosphorylation of Met at regulatory tyrosines in the auto-activation loop domain, correlating with increased cell spreading and filopodia extensions. Furthermore, phosphorylated Met is complexed with ,1 integrins and is co-localized with vinculin and FAK at focal adhesions in epithelial cells expressing activated Src. Conversely, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of Src abrogates constitutive Met phosphorylation in carcinoma cells or epithelial cells expressing activated Src, and inhibits filopodia formation. Interestingly, Src-dependent phosphorylation of Met requires cell,matrix adhesion, as well as actin stress fiber assembly. Phosphorylation of FAK by Src is also required for Src-induced Met phosphorylation, emphasizing the importance of the Src/FAK signaling pathway. However, stimulation of Met phosphorylation by addition of exogenous HGF in epithelial cells is refractory to inhibition of Src family kinases, indicating that HGF-dependent and Src/integrin-dependent Met activation occur via distinct mechanisms. Together these findings demonstrate a novel mechanism by which the Src/FAK axis links signals from the integrin adhesion complex to promote Met activation in breast epithelial cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 107: 1168,1181, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Growth Factors and Their Receptors in the Middle Ear Mucosa During Otitis Media,

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 3 2002
Sean D. Palacios MD
Abstract Objective The hyperplastic response of the middle ear mucosa during bacterial otitis media is thought to be mediated by the actions of growth factors and their respective receptors. The purpose of the study was to explore the expression of growth factors known to stimulate epithelial cells in other systems, as well as their receptors, in the middle ear mucosa during otitis media. Study Design Expression of mRNA growth factors and receptors was measured over time after inoculation of the rat middle ear with bacteria. Methods The middle ears of 12 male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with 105/mL Haemophilus influenzae strain 3655 (nontypeable, biotype II). Three rats were killed at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Three untreated rats were also killed to serve as negative controls. The middle ear mucosa samples were surgically removed and homogenized. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed on each sample with primers for rat epidermal growth factor, epidermal growth factor receptor (ErbB), heparin binding epidermal-like growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor receptor, keratinocyte growth factor, betacellulin, amphiregulin, and neuregulin-,. Results Hepatocyte growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor primers demonstrated polymerase chain reaction products of the expected size that were not displayed in the normal middle ear mucosa. Keratinocyte growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor receptor demonstrated polymerase chain reaction products at all time points tested. Betacellulin and neuregulin-, products were present at all time points except 72 hours after infection. Conclusions The results of the study support a role for growth factors in the middle ear mucosa during otitis media. These bioactive ingredients contribute to mucosal hyperplasia. [source]


Pleomorphic phenotypes of gastrointestinal stromal tumors at metastatic sites with or without imatinib treatment

CANCER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2010
Kazuha Sakamoto
Secondary resistance of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) to tyrosine kinase inhibitors occurs after several years' administration. However, the mechanism of resistance has not been fully clarified. In this study, we analyzed the genotypes and the histologic and immunohistochemical phenotypes of metastatic GISTs with and without imatinib treatment, and clarified the pleomorphic nature of metastatic GISTs. We examined 31 autopsy cases in which the patients died of multiple metastases of GISTs, and two surgically resected specimens with and without imatinib treatment. A total of 152 primary and metastatic lesions in 33 cases of GISTs were examined for histologic and immunohistochemical expression of KIT and CD34. We analyzed the expression of other receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in KIT-negative lesions, including human EGFR-related 2 (HER2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET), platelet-derived growth factor receptor-, (PDGFRA), and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-, (PDGFRB). Fifteen lesions in seven cases (9.9%) lacked KIT expression, and 74 (49%) in 22 cases lacked CD34 expression. Eight KIT-negative lesions in five cases expressed PDGFRB, one of which also expressed EGFR, and three lesions in one case expressed MET. Results for the other RTKs were negative. Missense point mutations at PDGFRB gene exon 12 were detected in one PDGFRB-positive case. Our results indicate that histomorphology, immunohistochemical phenotypes, and genotypes of metastatic GISTs vary among lesions, even in cases without imatinib treatment. A KIT-independent mechanism, such as activation of other RTKs, might participate in the proliferation of late-stage GISTs and might be a cause of secondary imatinib resistance. (Cancer Sci 2010; 101: 1270,1278) [source]