title: Hepatocyte growth factor protects endothelial cells against gamma ray irradiation-induced damage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of HGF on proliferation, apoptosis and migratory ability of human vascular endothelial cells against gamma ray irradiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  ECV304 cells derived from adult human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were irradiated with a single gamma ray dose of 20 Gy. Immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis were used to detect c-Met protein expression and HGF/c-Met signal pathway. In the HGF-treated groups, ECV304 cells were incubated with HGF (20 or 40 ng/mL) 3 h prior to irradiation. At 48 h post-irradiation, the proliferation of ECV304 cells was measured by MTT assay, the apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry, and the migratory ability of ECV304 cells was measured by transwell chamber assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  c-Met protein is expressed in ECV304 cells and can be activated by HGF. Gamma ray irradiation inhibits proliferation and migration of ECV304 cells in a dose-dependent manner. HGF significantly promoted the proliferation of ECV304 cells, and flow cytometry revealed that HGF can inhibit apoptosis of ECV304 cells. Transwell chamber assay also showed that HGF increases migration activity of endothelial cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HGF may afford protection to vascular endothelial cells against gamma ray irradiation-induced damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853,China.
authors.forename: Shun-Ying
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Hai-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Qing-Fang
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yue-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jin-Long
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li-Sheng
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005562:Formazans / Q000378:metabolism; D005720:Gamma Rays; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D005562:Formazans; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; C079782:MTT formazan; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met