Differential mitogenic effects of single chain hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/scatter factor and HGF/NK1 following cleavage by factor Xa.

ABSTRACT: Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is a multifunctional cytokine that is involved in many normal as well as pathological conditions. HGF/NK1, a splice variant of HGF/SF, has been reported to have either antagonistic or agonistic effects with regard to c-Met signaling depending on the cell type. In these experiments, we have determined that HGF/NK1 is a potent mitogen for rat hepatocytes in culture. Furthermore, we have found that coagulation factor Xa (fXa) is capable of cleaving HGF/NK1 and single chain HGF/SF (scHGF/SF). The products resulting from cleavage of HGF/NK1 or scHGF/SF by fXa appear as single bands under non-reducing conditions. The reaction products from the digestion of HGF/NK1 by fXa were separated under reducing conditions, and the cleavage site, as determine

SUBMITTER: Pediaditakis P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1821081 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature