Scatter factor is a fibroblast-derived modulator of epithelial cell mobility (original) (raw)

Nature volume 327, pages 239–242 (1987)Cite this article

Abstract

Various factors are known to regulate cell growth and differentiation, but less is known of agents which affect movement and positioning, particularly in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Cultured human embryo fibroblasts release a protein with a relative molecular mass (_M_r) of ∼50,000 (50K) that affects epithelial cells by causing a disruption of junctions, an increase in local motility and a scattering of contiguous sheets of cells. To investigate specificity, a range of cells has been examined for the ability to produce the factor and for sensitivity to its action. Most freshly isolated normal epithelia and epithelia from cell lines of normal tissue, but not epithelia from tumour cell lines or fibroblasts, were sensitive to scatter factor. In contrast, production of the factor, as identified by activity and by chromatography, was restricted to embryonic fibroblasts and certain variants of 3T3 and BHK21 cells and their transformed derivatives. We conclude that the scatter factor is a paracrine effector of epithelial-mesenchymal interaction, which affects the intercellular connections and mobility of normal epithelial cells. The factor might be involved in epithelial migration, such as occurs in embryogenesis or wound healing.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK
    Michael Stoker, Ermanno Gherardi, Marion Perryman & Julia Gray
  2. Imperial Cancer Research Fund, PO Box 123, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PX, UK
    Michael Stoker, Ermanno Gherardi, Marion Perryman & Julia Gray

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  1. Michael Stoker
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  2. Ermanno Gherardi
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  3. Marion Perryman
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  4. Julia Gray
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Stoker, M., Gherardi, E., Perryman, M. et al. Scatter factor is a fibroblast-derived modulator of epithelial cell mobility.Nature 327, 239–242 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/327239a0

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