HGF regulates tight junctions in new nontumorigenic gastric epithelial cell line

Abstract

The regulation of intercellular adhesion by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was examined on a novel nontumorigenic gastric epithelial cell line (IMGE-5) derived from H-2Kb-tsA58 transgenic mice. IMGE-5 cells constitutively expressed cytokeratin 18 and HGF receptors. Under permissive conditions (33 degrees C + interferon-gamma), IMGE-5 cells proliferated rapidly but did not display membrane expression of adherens and tight junction proteins. Under nonpermissive conditions, their proliferation was decreased and they displayed a strong, localized membrane expression of E-cadherin/beta-catenin and occludin/ZO-1. HGF treatment largely prevented the targeting of ZO-1 to the tight junction and induc..