Because the hepatocyte growth factor is a most potent mitogen in hepatocytes, possible involvement of c-met expression in hepatocarcinogenesis is suspected.
Combined, these observations suggest that reduced levels of hepatic HGF contribute to the mechanisms underlying peroxisome proliferator-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.
However, the role of heparin in the regulation of HGF signaling remains controversial and the effects of heparin on HGF-induced biological responses during hepatocarcinogenesis is not yet defined.
To clarify the role of MUC1 in HGF/c-Met signaling, we determined whether MUC1 and c-Met interact cooperatively and what their role(s) is in hepatocarcinogenesis.
These data suggest that activation of Met/JNK and Met/STAT3 signaling in Axin2+ hepatic cells via autophagy-dependent HGF expression and the resultant generation of Axin2+CD90+ CSCs is a major mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis in cirrhotic livers.