Expression of constitutively active c-MET receptor in human choriocarcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The c-MET oncogene encodes the transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Recently, either HGF or c-MET has been knocked out in the mouse, and the mutation is associated with defects in the development of the placenta by means of the reduction of trophoblast cells. We examined the role of c-MET in malignant transformation of trophoblast cells.


METHODS
In four human choriocarcinoma cell lines, GCH-1, GCH-1m, NUC-1 and SCH, the expression of HGF and c-MET was analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blotting using anti-c-MET antibody and antiphosphotyrosine antibody.


RESULTS
RT-PCR analysis showed that no cell lines expressed HGF, however all the cell lines revealed the expression of c-MET mRNA. c-MET receptor was expressed and also tyrosine-phosphorylated constitutively in these cell lines by Western blotting.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that c-MET may be involved in the growth and behavior of human choriocarcinoma although an autocrine fashion of HGF is unlikely.
Takayanagi
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan.
Aoki
Y
Y
Tanaka
K
K
D015153:Blotting, Western; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met