Hepatocyte growth factor specifically expressed in microglia activated Ras in the neurons, similar to the action of neurotrophic factors.
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mRNA and its receptor (c-Met) mRNA were detected in the fetal and adult rat brain. Expression of c-Met mRNA was increased after birth. HGF mRNA was preferentially expressed in the microglia of the rat brain, while c-Met mRNA was expressed in neurons as well as astrocytes and microglia. Most of the neurons were c-Met positive, and HGF stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of c-Met (140-kDa) in the neurons. HGF as well as bFGF also activated Ras in the neurons. These results suggest that HGF plays a biological role as one of the neurotrophic factors in the brain.
Yamagata
T
T
Division of Development and Differentiation, National Institute of Neuroscience, NCNP, Tokyo, Japan.
Muroya
K
K
Mukasa
T
T
Igarashi
H
H
Momoi
M
M
Tsukahara
T
T
Arahata
K
K
Kumagai
H
H
Momoi
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression; D011905:Genes, ras; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D019000:Phosphotyrosine; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D019000:Phosphotyrosine; D014443:Tyrosine; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)