M. Lailtrecker et al., A ROLE FOR HEPATOCYTE GROWTH-FACTOR SCATTER FACTOR IN REGULATING NORMAL AND NEOPLASTIC-CELLS OF REPRODUCTIVE TISSUES, Journal of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, 5(3), 1998, pp. 114-121
OBJECTIVE: To review data regarding the expression, function, and sign
al transduction pathways associated with hepatocyte growth factor/scat
ter factor (HGF/SF) as related to normal and neoplastic cells of repro
ductive tissues. METHODS: Studies involving HGF/SF were reviewed and t
he data were summarized. RESULTS: Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter fac
tor is generally expressed within the stromal components of the testis
, prostate, placenta, mammary gland, uterine endometrium, and ovary. T
he receptor for HGF/SF, c-met, is expressed in the epithelial cells of
these tissues. Ligand activation of c-met results in its autotyrosine
phosphorylation and the subsequent stimulation of numerous signal tra
nsduction pathways. Which pathways are activated determine in part the
effect that HGF/SF has on a specific tissue. Hepatocyte growth factor
/scatter factor can promote a variety of biologic responses including
mitosis, motogenesis (ie, cell movement), differentiation, and apoptos
is. In addition, both HGF/SF and c-met continue to be expressed during
the neoplastic transformation of cells from these reproductive tissue
s. CONCLUSION: Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor plays an import
ant role in regulating the physiologic function of several reproductiv
e tissues and may also be involved in the oncogenesis of cells within
these tissues. Copyright (C) 1998 by the Society for Gynecologic Inves
tigation.