Expression of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor and c-Met in human dental papilla and fibroblasts from dental papilla.
Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF), a broad-spectrum and multifunctional cytokine, is essential for the development of tissues including tooth. Here it was found that the HGF/SF content of human dental papillae obtained from 8 to 16-year-old individuals decreased significantly with age. Cultured fibroblasts prepared from the dental papillae of individuals of different ages produced HGF/SF at almost the same rate, but the sensitivities of the cells to interleukin-1alpha and tumour necrosis factor-alpha for the production of HGF/SF increased with age. Generally, mesenchymal cells such as fibroblasts produce HGF/SF but do not express c-Met, a receptor for HGF/SF, yet fibroblasts in dental papilla and cultured fibroblasts prepared from dental papilla did express c-Met, as determined by immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Recombinant human [125I]iodo-HGF/SF specifically bound to cell-surface macromolecules with a mol. wt of 146,000, which is the same as that of the beta-subunit of c-Met. The physiological role of c-Met on fibroblasts in dental papilla is unknown, but the addition of 2 ng of HGF/SF per ml to the culture medium significantly stimulated DNA synthesis in the cells, as determined by pulse labelling with [3H]thymidine. Exogenous HGF/SF also stimulated secretion by the cells of vascular endothelial growth factor, a cytokine that induces blood vessel-formation. These results suggest that HGF/SF may be involved in tooth development via autocrine mechanisms.
Kajihara
T
T
Department of Biochemistry, Kagoshima University Dental School, Japan.
Ohnishi
T
T
Arakaki
N
N
Semba
I
I
Daikuhara
Y
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019898:Autocrine Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003771:Dental Papilla / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008222:Lymphokines; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D014316:Tritium; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D004247:DNA; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D013936:Thymidine