Hepatocyte growth factor protects hepatoblastoma cells from chemotherapy-induced apoptosis by AKT activation

  • Authors:
    • S. Grotegut
    • R. Kappler
    • S. Tarimoradi
    • F. Lehembre
    • G. Christofori
    • D. Von Schweinitz
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 1, 2010     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000610
  • Pages: 1261-1267
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Abstract

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF) is a ubiquitously expressed molecule that elicits pleiotropic functions on epithelial cells, including mitogenic, motogenic, differentiating, angiogenic and morphogenic effects. In hepatoblastoma (HB), post-operative residual tumor growth and tumor recurrences are often associated with markedly elevated serum levels of HGF, suggesting a link between this molecule and tumor malignancy. Here, we demonstrate that HGF has no impact on overall cell viability and proliferation of HB cells, although signal transduction occurs downstream of HGF, such as c-Met phosphorylation, activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK-1/2 signaling. Instead of being mitogenic, HGF confers anti-apoptotic properties upon serum starvation and moreover protects HB cells against strong apoptotic inducers such as cisplatin and camptothecin, thereby contributing to chemotherapeutic resistance. This effect is mainly dependent on the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, since inhibition by wortmannin resulted in abrogation of HGF-mediated survival, whereas inhibition of the MAPK pathway had no effect. Together, these findings highlight the importance of HGF in tumor cell survival and suggest that HGF and its cognate receptor c-Met should be considered as a candidate for combined therapeutic strategies of advanced pediatric liver tumors.

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May 2010
Volume 36 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Grotegut S, Kappler R, Tarimoradi S, Lehembre F, Christofori G and Von Schweinitz D: Hepatocyte growth factor protects hepatoblastoma cells from chemotherapy-induced apoptosis by AKT activation. Int J Oncol 36: 1261-1267, 2010
APA
Grotegut, S., Kappler, R., Tarimoradi, S., Lehembre, F., Christofori, G., & Von Schweinitz, D. (2010). Hepatocyte growth factor protects hepatoblastoma cells from chemotherapy-induced apoptosis by AKT activation. International Journal of Oncology, 36, 1261-1267. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000610
MLA
Grotegut, S., Kappler, R., Tarimoradi, S., Lehembre, F., Christofori, G., Von Schweinitz, D."Hepatocyte growth factor protects hepatoblastoma cells from chemotherapy-induced apoptosis by AKT activation". International Journal of Oncology 36.5 (2010): 1261-1267.
Chicago
Grotegut, S., Kappler, R., Tarimoradi, S., Lehembre, F., Christofori, G., Von Schweinitz, D."Hepatocyte growth factor protects hepatoblastoma cells from chemotherapy-induced apoptosis by AKT activation". International Journal of Oncology 36, no. 5 (2010): 1261-1267. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000610