Scatter factor is a glycoprotein but glycosylation is not required for its activity

Multiple biological responses are induced by glycosylation-deficient hepatocyte growth factor

HGF (hepatocyte growth factor), a heterodimeric glycoprotein composed of alpha- and beta-chains, exerts biological activities through the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase. The alpha-chain has three glycosylation sites, while the beta-chain has two; however, the role of sugar chains on HGF is still unknown. To address the significance of glycosylation of HGF, three different types of glycosylation-deficient HGFs, i.e. non-glycosylated in the alpha-chain, the beta-chain, and in both the alpha- and beta-chains, were respectively expressed in COS-7 cells and then purified from culture supernatants. Unexpectedly, glycosylation-deficient HGFs induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the c-Met receptor and subsequent phosphorylation of ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) and Akt in rat hepatocytes with the same potency as glycosylated HGF. Consistent with this, glycosylation-deficient HGFs strongly stimulated DNA synthesis of hepatocytes equal to glycosylated HGF. Likewise, glycosylation-deficient HGFs induced cell scattering and branching tubulogenesis in MDCK (Madin-Darby canine kidney) cells, and thus were indistinguishable from glycosylated HGF in biological activities. Glycosylation also did not affect stability, protease sensitivity and tissue distribution, although the plasma clearance of HGF was slightly prolonged by glycosylation deficiency. Glycosylation deficiency resulted in a decrease in post-transcriptional biosynthesis of HGF in the cells, whereas extracellularly secreted HGFs were efficiently activated to a two-chain form. These results indicate that glycosylation influences post-transcriptional biosynthesis of HGF, whereas biological activities and basic physicochemical characteristics are retained, even in completely non-glycosylated HGF. Hence, non-glycosylated HGF is promising as an alternative for glycosylated HGF in clinical applications.

The plasminogen activation system reduces fibrosis in the lung by a hepatocyte growth factor-dependent mechanism

Mice deficient in the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene (PAI-1-/- mice) are relatively protected from developing pulmonary fibrosis from bleomycin administration. We hypothesized that one of the protective mechanisms may be the ability of the plasminogen system to enhance hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) effects, which have been reported to be anti-fibrotic in the lung. HGF is known to be sequestered in tissues by binding to extracellular matrix components. Following bleomycin administration, we found that HGF protein levels were higher in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from PAI-1-/- mice compared to wild-type (PAI-1+/+) mice. This increase could be suppressed by administering tranexamic acid, which inhibits plasmin activity. Conversely, intratracheal instillation of urokinase into bleomycin-injured PAI-1+/+ mice to activate plasminogen caused a significant increase in HGF within bronchoalveolar lavage and caused less collagen accumulation in the lungs. Administration of an anti-HGF neutralizing antibody markedly increased collagen accumulation in the lungs of bleomycin-injured PAI-1-/- mice. These results support the hypothesis that increasing the availability of HGF, possibly by enhancing its release from extracellular matrix by a plasmin-dependent mechanism, is an important means by which activation of the plasminogen system can limit pulmonary fibrosis.

Role of hepatocyte growth factor and its receptor c-met in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is characterised by the clonal expansion of malignant plasma cells. Recently, we reported that a new cytokine, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and its receptor c-met are related to this disease. Here we review the observations that associate HGF with myeloma. Malignant plasma cells produce HGF and express the receptor c-met. Many patients have elevated HGF levels, which is unfavourable both in terms of survival and response to treatment. Possible biological roles of HGF in this disease are discussed, with special focus on bone homeostasis and its binding to heparan sulphate proteoglycans.

Concomitant expression of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor and the receptor c-MET in human myeloma cell lines

Myeloma cell line supernatants were screened for their ability to inhibit the activity of transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) in the mink lung cell (Mv-1-Lu) bioassay. Supernatant from the human myeloma cell line JJN-3 contained potent TGFbeta antagonistic activity. This activity was isolated and found to be associated with a 72-78-kDa glycoprotein. Specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were generated toward the 72-78-kDa protein, and these antibodies precipitated the TGFbeta inhibitory activity from JJN-3 supernatant. Upon amino acid sequencing the protein appeared to be identical to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and some of the generated antibodies directly blocked the action of recombinant HGF in various assays. By HGF-specific polymerase chain reaction we demonstrated that HGF mRNA was expressed in five out of five tested myeloma cell lines. The level of HGF protein in supernatants showed great variation from >500 ng/ml in JJN-3 supernatant to a few ng/ml in the supernatants from other myeloma cell lines. The same five cell lines were also screened for expression the HGF receptor c-MET. Four of them expressed the receptor as shown by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. The receptor was shown to be constitutively phosphorylated in the human myeloma cell line JJN-3. This receptor could be dephosphorylated by anti-HGF antibodies, indicating the existence of an autocrine HGF loop in this cell line. We propose that HGF/c-MET may play a role in multiple myeloma.