title: Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) induces vascular permeability factor (VPF/VEGF) expression by cultured keratinocytes.
abstract: Skin expression of the endothelial cell-specific vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor (VPF/VEGF) as an outstanding mediator of physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis has been previously demonstrated to be subject to regulation by distinct stimuli. We explored whether the multifunctional hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) may mediate its angiogenic properties in part through paracrine induction of cutaneous VPF/VEGF synthesis. In these studies, we demonstrate that HGF/SF functions as a potent inducer of VPF/VEGF expression by human epidermal keratinocytes and by different epithelial-derived cells in vitro. VPF/VEGF mRNA and protein expression are regulated by HGF/SF in both a concentration- and a time-dependent fashion. Examination of mRNA half-lives does not reveal an increase in VPF/VEGF mRNA stability after HGF/SF stimulation. Thus, HGF/SF-induced VPF/VEGF mRNA expression appears to be largely dependent on enhanced gene transcription. In analyses of transiently transfected 5'-deletional reporter gene constructs, we identified a GC-rich VPF/VEGF promoter element that conveys transcriptional activation in response to HGF/SF. This sequence, located between nucleotides -88 and -70, is critical for both constitutive and HGF/SF-induced transcriptional activity. Together, our observations support a model in which HGF/SF mediates angiogenic properties in part through paracrine induction of VPF/VEGF synthesis by keratinocytes. In addition to cutaneous inflammation and wound healing, our findings have potential significance for vascular hyperpermeability and angiogenesis in tumor growth.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum der Dermatologie, Klinikum der J.W. Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gille
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khalik
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: König
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D002460:Cell Line; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014443:Tyrosine; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D008222:Lymphokines; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014443:Tyrosine; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D003513:Cycloheximide; D019833:Genistein