title: Expression of the c-met proto-oncogene and its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor, in Hodgkin disease.
abstract: The receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase that is encoded by the proto-oncogene c-met. Recently, c-MET was detected in Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells from Epstein-Barr virus-positive (EBV(+)) Hodgkin disease (HD). The c-MET, EBER-1, and LMP-1 expression in 45 lymph node biopsies and 12 bone marrow biopsies obtained from patients with HD was analyzed. In addition, HGF levels in serum samples from 80 healthy individuals and 135 HD patients in different phases of disease. In all 45 lymph node and 12 bone marrow samples examined, RS cells expressed c-MET but not HGF(+). These results were independent of the EBV infection. Interestingly, several HGF(+) dendritic-reticulum cells were found scattered around c-MET(+) RS cells. The mean +/- SEM serum HGF levels in HD patients at diagnosis and at the time of relapse were 1403 +/- 91 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1221-1585) and 1497 +/- 242 pg/mL (95% CI, 977-2017), respectively. HGF values were significantly higher than those of healthy individuals (665 +/- 28 pg/mL; 95% CI, 600-721; and P <.001 for both groups of patients) and of HD patients in remission (616 +/- 49 pg/mL; 95% CI, 517-714; and P <.001 for both groups of patients). A significant correlation was found between serum HGF levels and B symptoms at diagnosis (P =.014). In conclusion, this study indicates that HGF and c-MET constitute an additional signaling pathway between RS cells and the reactive cellular background, thereby affecting adhesion, proliferation, and survival of RS cells. Furthermore, the serum concentration of HGF in HD patients may be a useful tool in monitoring the status of disease.
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Hematology, Infectious Diseases, and Pathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teofili
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Di Febo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pierconti
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maggiano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bendandi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rutella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cingolani
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Di Renzo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Musto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pileri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Larocca
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002455:Cell Division; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D016539:Reed-Sternberg Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met