Over-expression of hepatocyte growth factor in human Kaposi's sarcoma.
Kaposi's sarcoma is a highly vascularized multifocal tumor which frequently appears as a complication of HIV infection. It has been suggested that a disorder in the cytokine network may contribute to the development of the disease. We examined the expression of several cytokines in human sporadic Kaposi's-sarcoma specimens, as well as in spindle cells cultured from human lesions, and consistently found high levels of expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). In addition, human lesion-derived spindle cells synthesize and secrete biologically active hepatocyte growth factor and express the hepatocyte-growth-factor receptor (c-MET). Moreover, elevated levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) mRNA were found in lesions of human sporadic Kaposi's sarcoma and in lesion-derived spindle cells which also over-express urokinase. Since HGF, TGF beta 1 and urokinase are all involved in capillary-vessel organization, dysregulation of these interacting agents may play a role in the initiation and/or progression of Kaposi's sarcoma, stimulating the growth of spindle cells and recruiting endothelial cells into the lesion.
Maier
J A
JA
Department of Biological and Technological Research-Dibit, San Raffaele Institute, Milan, Italy.
Mariotti
M
M
Albini
A
A
Comi
P
P
Prat
M
M
Comogilio
P M
PM
Soria
M R
MR
D001483:Base Sequence; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases