Scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor is essential for liver development

Item Type:	Article
Title:	Scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor is essential for liver development
Creators Name:	Schmidt, C. and Bladt, F. and Goedecke, S. and Brinkmann, V. and Zschiesche, W. and Sharpe, M. and Gherardi, E. and Birchmeier, C.
Abstract:	Polypeptide growth factors are important effectors of cell growth and differentiation in vitro and are thought to be critical for processes such as specification of cell fate, tissue growth and organogenesis in vivo. Scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor (SF/HGF) is the prototype of an emerging family of growth factors that resemble in their domain structure and mechanism of activation the blood proteinase plasminogen. The cellular responses of SF/HGF are mediated by the c-Met tyrosine kinase receptor. Here we report that mice lacking SF/HGF fail to complete development and die in utero. The mutation affects the embryonic liver, which is reduced in size and shows extensive loss of parenchymal cells. In addition, development of the placenta, particularly of trophoblast cells, is impaired. Thus, SF/HGF is essential for the development of several epithelial organs.
Keywords:	Cell Line, Cultured Cells, Epithelium, Erythropoiesis, Fetal Death, Genotype, Hepatocyte Growth Factor, Liver, Mutagenesis, Placenta, Pregnancy, Animals, Mice
Source:	Nature
ISSN:	0028-0836
Publisher:	Nature Publishing Group
Volume:	373
Number:	6515
Page Range:	699-702
Date:	23 February 1995
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1038/373699a0
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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