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 (Mr) 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.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
1. Stoker, M. & Ferryman, M. Molec. Biol. Med. 1, 117–122 (1982). 2. Stoker, M. /. cell Physiol 121, 174–183 (1984). 3. Stoker, M. & Ferryman, M. /. Cell Sci. 77, 209–233 (1985). 4. Chang, S. E., Keen, J., Lane, E. & Taylor-Papadimitrou, J. Cancer Res. 42,2040–2053 (1982). 5. Huschtscha, L. & Holliday, R. /. Cell Sci. 63, 77–99 (1983). 6. Schor, S. L., Schor, A. M., Durning, P. & Rushton, G. /. Cell Sci. 73, 235–244 (1985). 7. Rheinwald, J. G. & Green, H. Cell 18, 331–344 (1975). 8. Liotta, L. A. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 3303–3306 (1986). 9. Ireland, G. K., Stern, C. D. & Stoker, M. J. Anat. (in the press). 10. Hennings, H. in Junctional Complexes of Epithelial Cells (Ciba Foundation Symp. 125} (ed. Bock, G. & Clark, S.) 236–237 (Wiley, Chichester, 1986). 11. Laemmli, U. K. Nature 227, 680–685 (1970).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
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
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/327239a0
This article is cited by
-
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the cytoskeleton in bioengineered systems
Cell Communication and Signaling (2021)
-
HGF/c-MET pathway in cancer: from molecular characterization to clinical evidence
Oncogene (2021)
-
Growth factor dependent changes in nanoscale architecture of focal adhesions
Scientific Reports (2021)
-
Comprehensive review of targeted therapy for colorectal cancer
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy (2020)
-
Transcriptome analysis of fibroblasts from schizophrenia patients reveals differential expression of schizophrenia-related genes
Scientific Reports (2020)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.