Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) modulates Leydig cell extracellular matrix components.
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a pleiotropic factor that plays multiple roles during mammalian development. We previously demonstrated that in the postnatal testes, the HGF receptor, c-met, is expressed by Leydig cells and HGF increases the steroidogenetic activity of the cells. In the present article, we report that HGF modifies the composition of the extracellular matrix of cultured Leydig cells. We show that HGF increases the metabolic activity of isolated Leydig cells; in particular, the factor increases urokinase plasminogen activator and matrix metalloproteinase 2 secretion. We have also shown that the levels of active transforming growth factor beta are increased by HGF. On the contrary, using the Western blotting technique, a strong reduction in the amount of fibronectin present in the culture medium of cells cultured in the presence of HGF has been detected. The presented data demonstrate that HGF modulates several functional activities of Leydig cells, further supporting the hypothesis that this factor has a relevant role in the regulation of mammalian spermatogenesis.
Catizone
A
A
Department of Histology and Medical Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Ricci
G
G
Tufano
M A
MA
Perfetto
B
B
Canipari
R
R
Galdieri
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000096:biosynthesis
D005353:Fibronectins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2