Suppressed apoptotic susceptibility in human endometrial epithelial cells pretreated with hepatocyte growth factor
Tanaka, T.; Mizuno, K.; Umesaki, N.; Ogita, S.
Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology 25(4): 125-128
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0390-6663 PMID: 9987568 Document Number: 489988
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor are strongly expressed perimenstrually in human endometrial epithelium, but their functions remain unknown. In this study the effects of HGF on Fas-mediated apoptosis in the human endometrial epithelial cell line HHUA were investigated. It was found that HGF inhibited Fas-mediated growth suppression and DNA fragmentation in the cells without any increase in Fas antigen expression on the cells. This results suggests that HGF inhibits Fas-mediated apoptotic signals in the endometrium, and possibly plays a role in reshaping the endometrium during menstruation.