[Influence of scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor on the growth and transmission of hepatocarcinoma SMMC 7721 cells].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the influence of scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor (SF/HGF) on the growth and transmission of hepatocarcinoma SMMC 7721 cells by SF/HGF cDNA transfection.


METHODS
Gene transfection was operated by lipofectin method. In vitro, SF/HGF and c-met expression was tested by ELISA and Western blot. Cell proliferation and motility were compared by growth curves and wound healing assays. In vivo, cells before and after transfection were implanted subcutaneously into nude mice respectively to observe tumor growth and metastasis.


RESULTS
After transfection, the expression of SF/HGF reached 694 pg/ml, compared with 0.26 pg/ml before transfection; however the expression of c-met protein did not change obviously. Growth curves showed that cells after transfection proliferated more rapidly than those before transfection and had an increased capability of motility together with enlarged morphological changes. In vivo experiment, tumors originated from SF/HGF(+) cells grew faster than those from SF/HGF(-) cells and had embolism formed inside and metastasis in the corresponding lung tissues, whereas no such findings in SF/HGF(-) cell originated tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
High expression of SF/HGF can stimulate tumor cell proliferation and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Xie
Q
Q
Experimental Research Center of Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Liu
K
K
Hu
M
M
Wu
X
X
Zhou
K
K
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000032:analysis; D014162:Transfection
D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met