Expression of HGF/c-Met is dynamically regulated in the dorsal root ganglions and spinal cord of adult rats following sciatic nerve ligation.
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor c-Met play pivotal roles in post-traumatic regeneration of the nervous system. However, following peripheral nerve injury, the role and regulation of the HGF/c-Met system is less clear. Therefore, using a sciatic nerve ligation (SNL) model, spatiotemporal changes in HGF and c-Met expression were detected in the dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) and lumbar spinal cords of adult rats. HGF expression following SNL was found to be significantly decreased in ipsilateral L4-L5 DRGs from day 3 to day 14, with the lowest levels of expression detected on days 5 and 7. In contrast, no significant change in HGF expression was detected in the lumbar spinal cords. c-Met expression in ipsilateral L4-L5 DRGs and within the ipsilateral dorsal horn was found to be significantly up-regulated following SNL, particularly from day 5 to day 14, with peak levels of expression detected on days 7 and 14. In contrast, c-Met levels following SNL consistently remained stable in the spinal ventral horn. These findings suggest that the HGF/c-Met system is spatiotemporally regulated by a unique pattern of signaling pathways induced by peripheral nerve injury, and these pathways have a role in promoting the survival of injured neurons, especially adult DRG sensory neurons.
Zheng
Lin-Feng
LF
Department of Radiology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Wang
Rui
R
Yu
Qing-Ping
QP
Wang
Han
H
Yi
Xi-Nan
XN
Wang
Qi-Ben
QB
Zhang
Jian-Wei
JW
Zhang
Gui-Xiang
GX
Xu
Yuan-Zhong
YZ
D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007839:Functional Laterality; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000473:pathology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012701:Serotonin; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide