title: Mature hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor on the surface of human granulocytes is released by a mechanism involving activated factor Xa.
abstract: Serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is rapidly increased in patients suffering from various tissue injuries including arterial occlusive diseases. However, the cellular sources of the HGF increase remain largely unknown. In the present study, we showed that bioactive mature HGF is constitutively present on the surface of granulocytes in human peripheral blood. Exogenously added 125I-labeled iodo-HGF efficiently bound to granulocyte surface, whereas only a scarce amount of HGF mRNA was detected in granulocytes, indicating that the mature HGF on granulocytes is likely to be derived from other cell types. Interestingly, treatment of granulocytes with human serum rapidly induced the release of the cell surface-associated HGF. In vivo, thromboplastin injection into mice increased HGF release from transplanted human granulocytes, which was inhibited by the pretreatment with DX9065a, a specific inhibitor of factor Xa. Furthermore, DX9065a also inhibited the serum-induced HGF release from human granulocytes in vitro, suggesting that the HGF-releasing factor(s) in serum is associated with factor Xa activation. Thus, human granulocytes may function as a transporter of HGF in the peripheral blood, releasing HGF at the injured sites caused by blood coagulation, where HGF may promote tissue repair.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Dentistry, Department of Developmental Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomokazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohnishi
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kakimoto
authors.forename: Kenjiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bandow
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lowenstein
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Daikuhara
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuguchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D002417:Cattle; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D002474:Cell-Free System; D015951:Factor Xa / Q000502:physiology*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000502:physiology; D044967:Serum / Q000502:physiology; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D013925:Thromboplastin; D015951:Factor Xa