title: Met identification on human platelets: role of hepatocyte growth factor in the modulation of platelet activation.
abstract: Circulating HGF is significantly increased in a number of thrombus-associated disorders. Since platelets play a pivotal role in thrombogenesis, the ability of HGF to interact with human platelets was investigated. This paper shows for the first time that human platelets express HGF receptor, the tyrosine kinase encoded by c-MET gene. At physiological concentrations HGF was found to inhibit both glycoprotein (alpha)IIb(beta)3 activation and thrombin-dependent platelet aggregation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These results suggest that circulating HGF may counteract thrombogenesis by negatively modulating platelet functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Science, University A. Avogadro, Via Solaroli, 17, Novara 28100, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pietrapiana
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prat
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sinigaglia
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013917:Thrombin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D013917:Thrombin