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. 2001 Dec;7(6):816-20.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v7.i6.816.

SF/HGF-c-Met autocrine and paracrine promote metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Q Xie  1 , K D Liu, M Y Hu, K Zhou
Affiliations

SF/HGF-c-Met autocrine and paracrine promote metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Q Xie et al. World J Gastroenterol. 2001 Dec.

Abstract

Aim: To explore the role of SF/HGF-Met autocrine and paracrine in metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: SF/HGF and c-met transcription and protein expression in HCC were examined by RT-PCR and Western Blot in 4 HCC cell lines, including HepG2, Hep3B, SMMC7721 and MHCC-1, the last cell line had a higher potential of metastasis. sf/hgf cDNA was transfected by the method of Lipofectin into SMMC7721. SF/HGF and c-met antibody were used to stimulate and block SF/HGF-c-met signal transduction. Cell morphology, mobility, and proliferation were respectively compared by microscopic observation, wound healing assay and cell growth curve.

Results: HCC malignancy appeared to be relative to its met-SF/HGF expression. In MHCC-1, c-met expression was much stronger than that in other cell lines with lower potential of metastasis and only SF/HGF autocrine existed in MHCC-1. After sf/hgf cDNA transfection or conditioned medium of MHCC-1 stimulation, SMMC7721 changed into elongated morphology, and the abilities of proliferation (P < 0.05) and mobility increased. Such bio-activity could be blocked by c-met antibody (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The system of SF/HGF-c-met autocrine and paracrine played an important role in development and metastasis potential of HCC. Inhibition of SF/HGF-c-met signal transduction system may reduce the growth and metastasis of HCC.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
SF/HGF and c-met expression in HCC cell lines. A: c-met transcription; B: SF/HGF transcription 1: Mark; 2: MHCC-1; 3: HepG2; 4: Hep3B; 5: SMMC7721; 6: pBS7.3; C: c-met protein expression; D: SF/HGF protein expression (1: Mark; 2: SMMC7721; 3: Hep3B; 4: HepG2; 5: MHCC-1).
Figure 2
Figure 2
A: cell morphology comparison. × 400. Left: SMMC7721; Right: SF7721; Up: Control at “0” time ; Left down: SMMC7721 at 16 h after wound healing; Right down: SF7721 at 16 h after wound helaing; B: Cell morphology comparison × 400; C: Cell growth curve before and after gene transfection.
Figure 3
Figure 3
C-met inhibition assay.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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