Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor decreases the expression of occludin and transendothelial resistance (TER) and increases paracellular permeability in human vascular endothelial cells.

Metastasis Research Group, University Department of Surgery, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom. jiangw@cf.ac.uk

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF), a multi function cytokine has been shown to regulate the expression of cell adhesion molecules in endothelial cells. In the current study, we examined the effects of HGF/SF on the function of tight junctions and the expression of occludin in these cells. Stimulation of human vascular endothelial cells with HGF/SF resulted in a concentration dependent increase in the paracellular permeability as measured using fluorescence labelled dextran but a decrease in the transendothelial cell resistance (TER) of the endothelial cells. Western blotting revealed that HGF/SF decreased the level of occludin in the cells, a primary tight junction forming protein. Immunofluorescence study indicated that shortly after treatment with HGF/SF there was a disturbance of the distribution of occludin and then a reduction in the staining of the molecule. It is concluded that HGF/SF decreases the expression of occludin, resulting in the functional change of tight junction. Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 10497311 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]