Hepatocyte growth factor and macrophage-stimulating protein are upregulated during excisional wound repair in rats.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP) are structurally related molecules that stimulate epithelial cell proliferation and migration. MSP also acts directly as a chemoattractant for resident macrophages. These activities are integral to the wound repair processes of inflammation, epithelialization and tissue remodelling.

Cloning of rat betacellulin and characterization of its expression in the gastrointestinal tract.

Betacellulin (BTC) is relatively a more recently discovered member of the EGF family of growth factors. As a prelude to its expression and functional studies in rat models of gut damage/repair, we have cloned rat BTC and examined its expression in the gastrointestinal tract. Rat BTC was found to be nearly identical to mouse betacellulin.

Toxic shock syndrome associated with newly diagnosed type I diabetes.

Studies of two post-mortem pancreata of children at the onset of type I diabetes have suggested activation and expansion of islet infiltrating T cells by a superantigen. We present the first reported case of a superantigen mediated disease, toxic shock syndrome (TSS), occurring at the diagnosis of type I diabetes. A 12-year-old girl presented with TSS and newly diagnosed diabetes with ketoacidosis.

Increased expression of HGF and c-met in rat small intestine during recovery from methotrexate-induced mucositis.

Chemotherapy or radiotherapy often cause mucosal damage in the gut (gut mucositis) in cancer patients. As a step to investigate mechanisms underlying subsequent intestinal repair, we have examined the expression profiles of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor c-met, two molecules previously implicated in tissue repair, in comparison to the histopathological and proliferative changes in a rat model of methotrexate-induced small intestinal mucositis. Histological analysis of the intestinal specimens revealed crypt loss and villus atrophy with damage maximal on day 5 after methotrexate injection, and normalization of mucosal structure commencing on day 6.

Evidence for a functional hepatocyte growth factor receptor in human mesangial cells.

In this study we have investigated both the expression of c-met in cultured human mesangial cells and the proliferative effect of HGF on these cells. RNAse protection analysis using a c-met riboprobe showed c-met to be expressed and further that this expression was unaffected by the glucose concentration or osmolality of the media. Immunofluorescence studies performed using anti-HGF or anti-c-met antibodies clearly showed that both proteins are localised to human mesangial cells.

Chemical and biological characterization of chicken insulin-like growth factor-II.

Chicken insulin-like growth factor-II (cIGF-II) has been characterized by amino acid sequencing, by its receptor and binding protein interactions and by its biological activities in cultured cells in order to help define the significance of the peptide in the growth process. Chicken IGF-II has an N-terminal region and several amino acid substitutions in the mid-peptide region that differ from the mammalian growth factor. Nevertheless, cIGF-II was indistinguishable from ovine IGF-II in all assay systems, including those involving chicken receptors and chicken binding proteins.