title: Effects of serum on hepatocyte growth factor secretion and activation by periodontal ligament and gingival fibroblasts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/scatter factor is a paracrine growth factor secreted by mesenchymal cells, which exerts an effect on a variety of epithelial cell types. Our recent study revealed that periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PLF) and gingival fibroblasts (GF) cultured in the presence of serum which contains various stimulants produced HGF or HGF-like factor, a predominant chemoattractant for gingival epithelial cells, and suggested that it could be involved in epithelial down-growth in periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  To clarify whether serum in medium stimulates PLF and GF to synthesize or activate HGF, the effect of fetal bovine serum (FBS) on HGF production was determined by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), and its chemotactic activity for gingival epithelial cells was examined by modified Boyden chamber assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One to 10% FBS in the culture medium stimulated HGF secretion in a dose-dependent manner and the chemotactic activity was decreased by treatment with anti-hHGF neutralizing antibody. Furthermore, fibroblast-conditioned medium incubated with FBS and aprotinin reduced its chemotactic activity. Interestingly, serum-free culture of PLF and GF produced potent chemoattractants for gingival epithelial cells other than HGF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that FBS stimulates both HGF secretion and activation by PLF and GF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Nihon University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohshima
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yokosuka
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tokunaga
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maeno
authors.forename: Kichibee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otsuka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D007611:Aprotinin / Q000494:pharmacology; D001769:Blood; D002417:Cattle; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003470:Culture Media; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D015194:Diffusion Chambers, Culture; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019899:Paracrine Communication / Q000502:physiology; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013223:Statistics as Topic
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D003470:Culture Media; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D007611:Aprotinin