Down-regulation of scatter factor in MRC 5 fibroblasts by epithelial-derived cells. A model for scatter factor modulation.
Scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor (SF/HGF) is a multifunctional cytokine produced by embryonic fibroblasts and other mesenchymal cells that affects the growth and/or the movement of certain epithelia. Here we report that expression of scatter factor activity by MRC 5 cells, a strain of normal human embryonic lung fibroblasts, is greatly reduced as a result of co-culture of these cells with SVK14, an SV40-transformed human keratinocyte cell line. Using a cDNA probe to the beta chain of human HGF, we have found that the fall in SF activity in MRC 5/SVK14 co-cultures is accompanied by the loss of SF/HGF transcripts. As the inhibition of SF activity coincides with the disappearance of SF/HGF transcript, we conclude that inhibition of the SF activity expressed by MRC 5 cells by co-culture with SVK14 involves transcriptional regulation.
Kamalati
T
T
Biomedical Sciences Division, King's College London, Strand, UK.
Thirunavukarasu
B
B
Wallace
A
A
Holder
N
N
Brooks
R
R
Nakamura
T
T
Stoker
M
M
Gherardi
E
E
Buluwela
L
L
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D016207:Cytokines; D006133:Growth Substances; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor