EXPRESSION OF HEPATOCYTE GROWTH-FACTOR AN D ITS RECEPTOR, C-MET, IN HUMAN DIGESTIVE TISSUES AND IN GASTRIC AND COLONIC-CANCER CELL-LINES

Objectives and methods. - Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its recep tor c-Met exert mitogene and mitogene activities in digestive tissues. The aim of the study was a) to detect and localize these proteins in adult human digestive mucosae, liver and pancreas, using western immun oblotting and immunohistochemistry with anti-HGF and c-Met antibodies and b) to identify the receptor in three digestive cancer cell lines. Results. - HGF and c-Met were detected by the two techniques used in e sophagus, fundus, antrum, duodenum, cecum, colon and rectum where they were localized in epithelial and sometimes lamina propia cells. HGF a nd c-Met were also present in hepatocytes, and c-Met in pancreatic end ocrine cells. c-Met was identified in human gastric HGT-1 and rat colo n DHD/K12 cancer cells. HGF (40 ng/mL) scattered colonies formed by th ese cells as well as human T84 colon cancer cells. Conclusions. - Our findings demonstrate the presence of HGF and c-Met in all human digest ive tissues and are compatible with the implication of HGF in metastat ic processes of digestive cancers.