Expression of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor and c-Met in human dental papilla and fibroblasts from dental papilla.

Abstract

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF), a broad-spectrum and multifunctional cytokine, is essential for the development of tissues including tooth. Here it was found that the HGF/SF content of human dental papillae obtained from 8 to 16-year-old individuals decreased significantly with age. Cultured fibroblasts prepared from the dental papillae of individuals of different ages produced HGF/SF at almost the same rate, but the sensitivities of the cells to interleukin-1alpha and tumour necrosis factor-alpha for the production of HGF/SF increased with age. Generally, mesenchymal cells such as fibroblasts produce HGF/SF but do not express c-Met, a receptor for HGF/SF, yet fibroblasts in dental papilla and cultured fibroblasts prepared from dental papilla did express c-Met, as determined by immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Recombinant human [125I]iodo-HGF/SF specifically bound to cell-surface macromolecules with a mol. wt of 146,000, which is the same as that of the beta-subunit of c-Met. The physiological role of c-Met on fibroblasts in dental papilla is unknown, but the addition of 2 ng of HGF/SF per ml to the culture medium significantly stimulated DNA synthesis in the cells, as determined by pulse labelling with [3H]thymidine. Exogenous HGF/SF also stimulated secretion by the cells of vascular endothelial growth factor, a cytokine that induces blood vessel-formation. These results suggest that HGF/SF may be involved in tooth development via autocrine mechanisms.

• Authors: T Kajihara, T Ohnishi, N Arakaki, I Semba, Y Daikuhara
• Journal: Archives of oral biology (Arch Oral Biol) Vol. 44 Issue 2 Pg. 135-47 (Feb 1999) ISSN: 0003-9969 [Print] England
• PMID: 10206332 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Endothelial Growth Factors
• Interleukin-1
• Iodine Radioisotopes
• Lymphokines
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
• Tritium
• Hepatocyte Growth Factor
• DNA
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met
• Thymidine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Aging (genetics, metabolism)
• Autocrine Communication (physiology)
• Cells, Cultured
• Child
• DNA (biosynthesis)
• Dental Papilla (cytology, metabolism)
• Endothelial Growth Factors (biosynthesis)
• Fibroblasts (cytology, metabolism)
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Hepatocyte Growth Factor (analysis, genetics)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• In Situ Hybridization
• Interleukin-1 (pharmacology)
• Iodine Radioisotopes
• Lymphokines (biosynthesis)
• Mesoderm (cytology, metabolism)
• Molecular Weight
• Neovascularization, Physiologic
• Odontogenesis (physiology)
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met (analysis, genetics)
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Thymidine (metabolism)
• Tritium
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (pharmacology)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors