Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor promotes a switch from E- to N-cadherin in chick embryo epiblast cells.
Epiblast cells downregulate E-cadherin and upregulate N-cadherin as they ingress through the primitive streak and when placed in culture. The factors that promote the alteration in cadherin expression during gastrulation are unknown. The effects of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) on cadherin expression were tested in cultures of prestreak epiblast cells. HGF/SF decreased the expression of E-cadherin and increased the percentage of cells with N-cadherin and sarcomeric myosin. Cells with N-cadherin but not E-cadherin differentiated into skeletal muscle. HGF/SF also stimulated proliferation and the formation of cellular aggregates. Sensitivity to HGF/SF in vitro depended on the original position of cells within the epiblast. More cells from the lateral epiblast switched cadherins and proliferated in response to HGF/SF than medial epiblast cells. HGF/SF may affect gastrulation by altering cadherin expression, modulating cell adhesion, and stimulating proliferation within the epiblast.
DeLuca
S M
SM
Department of Anatomy, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19131, USA.
Gerhart
J
J
Cochran
E
E
Simak
E
E
Blitz
J
J
Mattiacci-Paessler
M
M
Knudsen
K
K
George-Weinstein
M
M
D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005775:Gastrula / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D015820:Cadherins; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D009218:Myosins