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HGF Modulates Actin Cytoskeleton Remodeling and Contraction in Testicular Myoid Cells

Authors :
Angela Catizone
Giulia Ricci
Maria Caruso
Michela Galdieri
Katia Corano Scheri
Virginia Di Paolo
Rita Canipari
Source :
Biomedicines, Vol 3, Iss 1, Pp 89-109 (2015)
Publication Year :
2015
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2015.

Abstract

The presence of the HGF/Met system in the testicular myoid cells was first discovered by our group. However, the physiological role of this pathway remains poorly understood. We previously reported that HGF increases uPA secretion and TGF-β activation in cultured tubular fragments and that HGF is maximally expressed at Stages VII–VIII of the seminiferous epithelium cycle, when myoid cell contraction occurs. It is well known that the HGF/Met pathway is involved in cytoskeletal remodeling; moreover, the interaction of uPA with its receptor, uPAR, as well as the activation of TGF-β have been reported to be related to the actin cytoskeleton contractility of smooth muscle cells. Herein, we report that HGF induces actin cytoskeleton remodeling in vitro in isolated myoid cells and myoid cell contraction in cultured seminiferous tubules. To better understand these phenomena, we evaluated: (1) the regulation of the uPA machinery in isolated myoid cells after HGF administration; and (2) the effect of uPA or Met inhibition on HGF-treated tubular fragments. Because uPA activates latent TGF-β, the secretion of this factor was also evaluated. We found that both uPA and TGF-β activation increase after HGF administration. In testicular tubular fragments, HGF-induced TGF-β activation and myoid cell contraction are abrogated by uPA or Met inhibitor administration.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
22279059
Volume :
3
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Biomedicines
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.841f551d349d414ab5d140403f3d73d6
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines3010089