Hepatocyte growth factor in human milk and reproductive tract fluids

PROBLEM: Despite evidence indicating a role for hepatocyte growth factor (H GF) in gastrointestinal and reproductive physiology, the concentration and distribution of HGF in human breast milk (BM) and reproductive tract fluids remain unknown. METHOD OF STUDY: Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the HGF c oncentrations were determined in human oviductal fluid (hOF), follicular fl uid (FF), amniotic fluid (AF), seminal plasma (SP), and colostrum/milk samp les, and expression of HGF mRNA by milk cells and AF cells were examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: HGF is present at nearly 70-fold normal serum (0.85 +/- 0.15 ng/mL ) concentration in FF (n = 3; x = 57 +/- 16 ng/ml) and AF (II = 17; x = 57 +/- 26 ng/mL), and is also present in hOF (n = 3; x = 4.8 +/- 2.3 ng/mL) an d CVL (n = 8; x = 0.7 +/- 1.1 ng/mL) varying throughout the menstrual cycle . HGF is found at 3-times serum concentration in BM (n = 24;x = 2.3 +/- 1.3 ng/mL) with no significant difference between premature and full term or s tage of lactation (colostrum, transitional, mature milk). HGF mRNA was dete cted in Bh I cells but not in AF cells. CONCLUSIONS: HGF is present in sufficient amounts to profoundly affect gast rointestinal maturation in the fetus via swallowed AF and neonate via BM, a nd helps to explain the increased rate of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) i n infants of premature rupture of membrane (PROM)-complicated pregnancies, and the decreased rate in breast fed neonates. HGF in FF may be necessary f or the development and maturation of the oocyte. HGF in hOF, SP, and cervic ovaginal lavage (CVL) is likely to enhances epithelial cell integrity and t he mucosal barrier. Thus, HGF is widely available in the reproductive tract with functions that remain to be fully elucidated.