Expression of the met-receptor and its ligand, HGF-SF during mouse embryogenesis.
We have determined the expression patterns of the met proto-oncogene and the gene which encodes its ligand, scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor (HGF-SF), during mouse embryogenesis. A recurring pattern of expression was found in a variety of different organs: expression of met in specific epithelial cells, and transcripts for the HGF-SF gene in mesenchymal cells in close vicinity. Exchange of signals between mesenchymal and epithelial cell compartments are important in morphogenesis and differentiation of a variety of embryonal organs, although their molecular basis has not been elucidated. The observed expression of met and HGF-SF during development suggests that this receptor and its specific ligand might play a role in such processes. In addition to this distinct pattern, expression of met in certain epithelia and HGF-SF in the surrounding mesenchyme, we find met transcripts in neural, endothelial and muscle cells and transcripts for HGF-SF in neural and muscle tissue. In no instance did we observe both, transcripts for the receptor and the ligand, in the same cells. This suggests a paracrine mode of action for HGF-SF and its receptor during development. This exchange of signals might thus regulate a variety of processes, notably among them mesenchymal epithelial interactions.
Sonnenberg
E
E
Max-Delbrück-Laboratorium in der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Köln, Germany.
Weidner
K M
KM
Birchmeier
C
C
D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009132:Muscles / Q000196:embryology; D009805:Odontogenesis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met