Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor (HGF/SF) stimulates migration of various cells and has been linked via Met tyrosine kinase signaling to transformation and the metastatic phenotype. HGF/SF-Met signaling also plays a role in malignancy. Migration of transformed MDCK-F cells depends on activation of a charybdotoxin (ChTX)-sensitive, volume-activated membrane K+ current. Patch-clamp electrophysiology and transwell migration assays were used to study the effects of HGF/SF on membrane K+ currents and cell migration in MDCK II cells. HGF/SF activated membrane K+ currents that increased over 24 hr, and these could be modulated by altering intracellular free calcium concentration [Ca2+]i. HGF/SF also significantly increased MDCK II cell migration. Specific Ca2+-activated K+ channel blockers, ChTX, iberiotoxin (IbTX), stichodactyla toxin (Stk) and clotrimazole (CLT) inhibited HGF/SF stimulation of membrane K+ currents and cell migration. This suggests that the activation of Ca2+-activated K+ channels is necessary for HGF/SF stimulation of MDCK II cell migration. Furthermore, HGF/SF induced ERK phosphorylation, and addition of the MEK inhibitor PD98059 inhibited ERK phosphorylation, as well as HGF/SF stimulation of Ca2+-activated K+ currents and cell migration in MDCK II cells. Taken together, HGF/SF induces phosphorylation of ERK, which plays a role in HGF/SF activation of Ca2+-activated K+ channels and enhancing cell migration in MDCK II cells.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signaling drives epithelial cells to scatter by breaking cell-cell adhesions and migrating as solitary cells, a process that parallels epithelial-mesenchymal transition. HGF binds and activates the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase, but downstream signaling required for scattering remains poorly defined. This study addresses this shortcoming in a number of ways.A high-throughput in vitro drug screen was employed to identify proteins necessary in this HGF-induced signaling. Cells were tested for reactivity to HGF stimulation in a Boyden chamber assay. This tactic yielded several small molecules that block HGF-induced scattering, including a calcium channel blocker. Patch clamping was used to determine the precise effect of HGF stimulation on Ca2+ signaling in MDCK II cells. Cell-attached patch clamping was employed to detect Ca2+ signaling patterns, and channel blockers were used in various combinations to deduce the identity of Ca2+ channels involved in EMT. The results of these experiments show that HGF stimulation results in sudden and transient increases in calcium channel influxes. These increases occur at predictable intervals and rely on proper tubulin polymerization to appear, as determined through the use of a tubulin polymerization inhibitor. Though multiple channels occur in the membranes of MDCK II cells, noticeably TRPV4 and TrpC6, it is TrpC6 that is specifically required for HGF-induced scattering. These HGF-induced calcium influxes through TrpC6 channels drive a transient increase in NFAT-dependent gene transcription which is required for HGF-induced EMT. This was determined through the use of luciferase-based NFAT reporter assays and confirmed through confocal immunofluorescence. Using a small-molecule inhibitor of WNK kinase, it was determined that loss of WNK kinase function is sufficient to prevent HGF-induced EMT. Furthermore, patch-clamp analysis demonstrated that WNK kinase significantly increases channel opening at the surface of MDCK cells, indicating a possible mechanism of action for c-Met inhibition, but leaving doubt as to whether WNK kinase is in fact normally involved in c-Met signaling, or whether it is simply permissive.

BACKGROUND: Aberrant MET receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) activation leads to invasive tumor growth in different types of cancer. Overexpression of MET and its ligand hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) occurs more frequently in glioblastoma (GBM) than in low-grade gliomas. Although we have shown previously that HGF-autocrine activation predicts sensitivity to MET tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in GBM, whether it initiates tumorigenesis remains elusive. METHODS: Using a well-established Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon strategy, we injected human and cDNA together with a short hairpin siRNA against (SB-hHgf.Met.ShP53) into the lateral ventricle of neonatal mice to induce spontaneous glioma initiation and characterized the tumors with H&E and immunohistochemistry analysis. Glioma sphere cells also were isolated for measuring the sensitivity to specific MET TKIs. RESULTS: Mixed injection of SB-hHgf.Met.ShP53 plasmids induced de novo glioma formation with invasive tumor growth accompanied by HGF and MET overexpression. While glioma stem cells (GSCs) are considered as the tumor-initiating cells in GBM, both SB-hHgf.Met.ShP53 tumor sections and glioma spheres harvested from these tumors expressed GSC markers nestin, GFAP, and Sox 2. Moreover, specific MET TKIs significantly inhibited tumor spheres' proliferation and MET/MAPK/AKT signaling. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of the HGF/MET axis along with p53 attenuation may transform neural stem cells into GSCs, resulting in GBM formation in mice. These tumors are primarily driven by the MET RTK pathway activation and are sensitive to MET TKIs. The SB-hHgf.Met.ShP53 spontaneous mouse glioma model provides a useful tool for studying GBM tumor biology and MET-targeting therapeutics.

Androgens are the main regulators of human hair growth stimulating larger, terminal hair development e.g. beard and causing scalp balding, androgenetic alopecia. Hair disorders cause psychological distress but are poorly controlled. Androgens probably act by altering regulatory paracrine factors produced by the mesenchyme-derived dermal papilla. This study aimed to investigate paracrine factors involved in androgen-regulated alopecia, particularly hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) family members, by investigating their in vivo status. Balding and non-balding scalp hair follicles and their component tissues were isolated and analysed by molecular biological methods (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative PCR and DNA microarray analysis), cell culture and immunohistochemistry. Scalp follicles expressed a range of paracrine messenger genes. The dermal papilla, cultured dermal papilla cells and dermal sheath expressed several HGF family genes, while matrix cells only produced the receptor RON suggesting autocrine roles for HGF and MSP, but a paracrine route only for MSP. Comparing balding and non-balding follicles from the same individuals revealed the expected reduction in several keratin and keratin-related protein genes supporting this approach's validity. There were also significant differences in paracrine factors previously implicated in androgen action by in vitro studies. Several factors believed to increase during androgen stimulation of larger, darker follicles, e.g. IGF-I and SCF, were lowered in balding follicles, while putative inhibitory factors, e.g. TGFß-1, were increased. HGF and MSP and their receptors, c-Met and RON, were significantly reduced. These results increase our understanding of androgen action in human hair follicles; this could lead to better treatments for hair disorders. / Saudi government

<p> We aimed to examine the satellite cell response and the potential of HGF signaling in mediating satellite cell activation and proliferation. To achieve this, we determined the time course of satellite cell activation and expression of HGF, HGFA, HAI-l, HAI-2 and the MRFs in skeletal muscle, as well as HGF protein in the blood, before and over five days following an acute bout of eccentrically-biased exercise. Eight recreationally active participants (20.6 ± 2.1 y; 180.5 ± 5.2 cm; 81.4 ± 9.8 kg) were recruited for the study. Subjects were required to perform 300 eccentric contractions involving the quadriceps femoris muscles at 180 °/s, over a 60° range of motion with a randomly selected leg. A baseline biopsy (PRE) was taken from the opposite leg. Muscle and blood samples were taken before the exercise (PRE) and at 4 h (T4), 24 h (T24), 72 h (T72) and 120 h (T120) following the exercise. The exercise protocol resulted in an increase in the number of satellite cells (N-CAM labeled cells), expressed both relative to myofiber number and relative to total myonuclei, between PRE and T4 which was sustained over the time course (p<0.001). Further increases in N-CAM labeled cells, expressed relative to myofibre cross-section, were observed between T4 and T24 (p=0.01) and between T4 and T72 (p=0.002). Myf5 mRNA expression increased significantly from both PRE and T4 by T24 (p=0.04). MyoD mRNA increased significantly from PRE by T4 (p=0.02). Myogenin mRNA increased significantly at T24 versus PRE (p=0.02). No significant change was observed over time for MRF4. HGF protein increased significantly in serum from baseline (PRE) to T4 (p=0.04). Active HGF protein was detected in skeletal muscle at rest (14.4±1.3 avg IDV/actin avg IDV) and tended to increase from PRE to T24 (p=0.12). HGFA protein increased significantly from PRE to T24 (p=0.04). HAI-2 increased significantly from PRE at T72 (p=0.03) and T120 (p=0.04). HAI-1 protein increased significantly from PRE to T24 (p=0.02). HAI-2 (32 kDa) increased significantly from baseline (PRE) by T24 (p=0.03), and also by T72 and T120 (p=0.02). HAI-2 (28 kDa) protein showed no significant change over time HGF, HGFA, HAI-1, and HAI-2 transcripts were undetected over the time course. We conclude that a single bout of high-intensity exercise is sufficient to activate satellite cells, which may involve both a local and systemic response to exercise-induced injury. Furthermore, we propose that HGF signaling plays an important role in the regulation of satellite cells in the post exercise period.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

No description available.

Pour étudier la capacité cellulaire à s’adapter aux changements de signalisation dépendante des RTKs, nous utilisons un modèle de souris où l’expression du RTK Met sauvage peut être accrue dans un tissu spécifique. La plupart des tissus se protègent contre cette expression anormale des RTK. Mais certains types cellulaires sont sensibles aux altérations des RTKs, c’est le cas du mésenchyme du membre pendant l’embryogenèse. En effet, l’expression de certains gènes du mésenchyme est modifiée et celui-ci n’est plus accessible aux myoblastes qui le colonisent, conduisant à des déficits des muscles du membre. Chez l’adulte une augmentation de l’expression de Met dans le foie (Alb-R26Met) perturbe l’homéostasie tissulaire, conduisant à la tumorigenèse. Pour identifier des gènes qui coopèrent avec les RTKs pendant l’initiation de la tumorigenèse, nous avons combiné les souris Alb-R26Met avec le système de mutagenèse Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon. 285 gènes putatifs liés au cancer ont été identifiés. Certains sont des proto-oncogènes ou suppresseurs de tumeurs déjà connus, validant le système. D’autres gènes n’avaient, jusqu’à présent, jamais été associés à ce processus. 9 candidats ont été fonctionnellement validés. Pour identifier des signaux assurant le maintien de la tumeur, nous avons analysé le phosphokinome, testé l’efficacité de composés et identifié de nouvelles combinaisons de drogues qui agissent en synergie pour tuer les cellules cancéreuses dérivées de Alb-R26Met. En conclusion, ces travaux montrent qu’une approche génétique non-biaisée combinée à une approche génomique permet d’identifier de nouveaux mécanismes pertinents pour la biologie du cancer. / We explore the cell competence to deal with slight changes in RTK inputs during embryogenesis and tissue homeostasis using a mouse model in which wild-type RTK Met levels can be moderately enhanced in a tissue specific manner. Most tissues buffer enhanced RTK levels thus avoiding perturbation of developmental programs and tissue homeostasis. Nevertheless, certain cell types are vulnerable to RTK levels. During embryogenesis, the limb mesenchyme is sensitive to alterations of the spatial distribution of RTKs, as illustrated by gene expression changes and by loss of accessibility to incoming myoblasts, which lead to limb muscle defects. At adulthood, liver enhanced Met levels (Alb-R26Met) perturbs tissue homeostasis, leading to tumorigenesis. To uncover new genes that cooperate with RTKs during tumour initiation, we combined Alb-R26Met mice with the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon mutagenesis system. 285 putative cancer-related genes have been identified. Some correspond to known proto-oncogenes or tumour suppressors, thus validating the overall strategy we employed for cancer gene discovery. Others have not been previously linked to cancer. 9 new tumour suppressors have been functionally validated, demonstrating the validity of our screen strategy. To identify signals involved in tumour maintenance, we employed a phosphokinome-guided drug screen and identified new synergistic drugs deleterious for cancer cells modelled by the Alb-R26Met genetic setting. The overall strategy and outcomes strengthen the value of combining unbiased genetic and genomic approaches to identify new mechanisms relevant for cancer biology and new therapeutic interventions.

Le cancer de la prostate (PCa) est le deuxième cancer le plus courant chez les hommes au niveau mondial. Le suppresseur de la signalisation des cytokines 1 (SOCS1) est considéré comme un suppresseur de tumeur en raison de la fréquente répression épigénétique de ce gène dans de nombreux cancers. Il a été reporté que SOCS1 inhibait l’activation de STAT3 induite par l’IL-6, ainsi que les cyclines et les kinases dépendantes des cyclines dans les cellules malignes de la prostate. D’autre part, il a été montré que SOCS1 n’était pas essentiel lors du contrôle de la signalisation de l’IL-6 dans les hépatocytes dépourvus de cette protéine, cependant elle est essentielle pour atténuer la signalisation du facteur de croissance des hépatocytes (HGF) via son récepteur MET. MET est un récepteur de tyrosine kinases qui est surexprimé dans le PCa agressif et métastatique. Notre hypothèse de recherche propose que la répression de SOCS1 par méthylation du promoteur et la dérégulation de l’expression de MET et de sa signalisation, sont des mécanismes pathogéniques liés au développement et à la progression du PCa. Nous avons généré des lignées de cellules PC3 et DU145 stables exprimant SOCS1. Les cellules ont été stimulées avec HGF et l’activation des voies de signalisation a été évaluée par immunobuvardage. Des essais in vitro de migration, de prolifération et d’invasion ont été effectués en présence de HGF. Des gènes de transition épithélio-mésenchymateuse ont été évalués par PCR quantitatif en présence ou non du facteur de croissance. Les cellules du PCa transfectées ou pas avec SOCS1 ont été inoculées dans des souris NOD SCID gamma de façon sous-cutanée ou orthoptique afin d’évaluer respectivement la croissance tumorale et la formation de métastases. Les tumeurs reséquées ont été analysées histologiquement et biochimiquement. Nos résultats montrent que SOCS1 atténue l'activation de MET induite par HGF et la phosphorylation d’ERK dans les cellules PC3, ainsi que la phosphorylation d’ERK et d’AKT dans les cellules DU145. SOCS1 inhibe également la prolifération cellulaire induite par HGF, ainsi que la migration et l’invasion in vitro. De plus, SOCS1 réduit l’expression des gènes de transition épithélio-mésenchymateuse impliqués dans la dégradation des composants de la matrice extracellulaire dans les cellules DU145 mais pas dans les cellules PC3. La surexpression de SOCS1 a stimulé l’augmentation de déposition de collagène, in vivo. Les tumeurs formées par les cellules exprimant SOCS1 étaient de taille significativement plus petites avec une réduction de la prolifération comparé aux tumeurs provenant des cellules contrôles. En outre, SOCS1 a inhibé la formation de métastases à distance dans un modèle orthotopique. En conclusion, nous suggérons que SOCS1 est un suppresseur de tumeur indispensable de la prostate, et qu’au moins une partie de sa fonction a lieu via la régulation négative de la signalisation du récepteur MET. / Abstract : Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer among men worldwide. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) is considered a tumor suppressor due to frequent epigenetic repression of the SOCS1 gene in several human malignancies. Inactivation of SOCS1 also occurs in PCa by gene methylation and micro-RNA-mediated repression. SOCS1 has been reported to inhibit IL-6-induced STAT3 activation and down-regulates cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases in PCa cells. It has been shown that SOCS1 is not required to control IL-6 signaling in SOCS1-deficient hepatocytes, but is essential to attenuate hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signaling via its receptor MET. This protein is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), overexpressed in aggressive and metastatic PCa. Thus we hypothesized that the repression of SOCS1 via promoter methylation and deregulated MET expression and signaling are inter-related pathogenic mechanisms in PCa development and progression. We generated stable SOCS1-expressing PCa cell lines (PC3 and DU145) using lentiviral transduction followed by clonal selection via limiting dilution. Cells were stimulated with HGF and downstream signaling events were assessed by Western blot. Proliferation, migration and invasion assays were also conducted in the presence of HGF in vitro. Epithelial mesenchymal transition genes were evaluated by qPCR in the presence or absence of the growth factor. The PCa cells transfected with SOCS1 and non-transfected controls were inoculated into NOD SCID gamma mice as xenografts or as orthotopic tumors to assess tumor growth and metastasis formation, respectively. Resected tumors were further analyzed histologically and biochemically. Our results showed that SOCS1 attenuates HGF-induced MET activation and ERK phosphorylation in PC3 and DU145 PCa cell lines. SOCS1 inhibited HGF induced cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. Additionally, SOCS1 decreased epithelial mesenchymal transition genes involved in the degradation of extracellular matrix components in DU145 cells but not in PC3. In vivo, SOCS1 overexpression leads to an increase of collagen deposition. Tumors formed by SOCS1 expressing cells were significantly smaller in size with reduced cell proliferation compared to tumors arising from control cells. Furthermore, SOCS1 inhibited distant metastasis formation in the orthotopic model. Overall our results suggest that SOCS1 has a tumor suppressor role in PCa evolution and part of this function is mediated by the negative regulation of MET receptor signalling and down-regulation of genes supporting migration and invasion processes such as matrix metalloproteinases.

Notch signaling plays a key role in development, tissue homeostasis, and cancer. High expression levels of Notch signaling components are associated with aggressive disease and poor patient prognosis in breast cancer. Mesenchymal‐epithelial transition factor (MET) is a receptor tyrosine kinase with an established prognostic significance correlating with poor disease outcome in breast cancer patients as a result of high metastatic rate. We performed expression array analysis to identify candidate Notch target genes; we identified and validated MET as a target of NOTCH1 signaling in breast cancer. We found that NOTCH1 knockdown significantly reduces MET promoter activity, as well as expression levels of MET transcript and protein. The mechanism of NOTCH1 regulation of MET expression will be the focus of future work. To further identify candidate target genes of NOTCH1 signaling, we generated and validated a NOTCH1 antibody for use in chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments.

Notch signaling plays a key role in development, tissue homeostasis, and cancer. High expression levels of Notch signaling components are associated with aggressive disease and poor patient prognosis in breast cancer. Mesenchymal‐epithelial transition factor (MET) is a receptor tyrosine kinase with an established prognostic significance correlating with poor disease outcome in breast cancer patients as a result of high metastatic rate. We performed expression array analysis to identify candidate Notch target genes; we identified and validated MET as a target of NOTCH1 signaling in breast cancer. We found that NOTCH1 knockdown significantly reduces MET promoter activity, as well as expression levels of MET transcript and protein. The mechanism of NOTCH1 regulation of MET expression will be the focus of future work. To further identify candidate target genes of NOTCH1 signaling, we generated and validated a NOTCH1 antibody for use in chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments.