Abstract
Purpose:
The aim of this study is to investigate the role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in retinal angiogenesis and blood retinal barrier formation of developing retina.
Methods:
Using the developing retina of postnatal 4, 10, 18, and 26 mice (C57BL/6), we examined the expression of HGF and its receptor, c-Met, through immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence double staining. After treating human renal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) with HGF and/or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), we investigated the expression of tight junction protein (occludin and claudin-1) by Western blot analysis.
Results:
The HGF and c-Met were expressed in the developing retina especially at later stage of development. It was observed that c-Met expression coincided with the vascularization of the developing retina. In addition, VEGF induced downregulation of occludin and claudin-1 was decreased by HGF in HRMECs.
Conclusions:
HGF and c-Met are involved in vascularization of developing retina especially at later stage. The role of HGF in stabilizing tight junction proteins in HRMECs implicates that HGF might have a role in stabilizing blood retinal barrier at later stage of development.
Keywords: 543 growth factors/growth factor receptors •
497 development •
554 immunohistochemistry