Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor c-Met on the migration ability of rat bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and its mechanism. Methods The EPCs were separated, obtained and identified. The Ad-c-Met-EPCs were obtained by recombinant adenovirus vector mediates c-Met transfered EPCs. The expression of c-Met and proliferation capacity of each group cells were detected by real-time PCR, Western blot, and CCK8 respectively. The migration ability of Ad-c-Met-EPCs with different concentrations of HGF were checked by Transwell system. The each group cells were processed by proper concentration of HGF, while the PBS control group and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor group (add HGF and 10g/L LY294002) were also setted. The migration ability, Akt and P-Akt of the each group cells were detected by Transwell system and Western blot. Results 1)The results of QPCR and Western blot showed that c-Met gene and protein in Ad-c-Met-EPCs had high expression(P<0.05). 2)The c-Met gene did not have significant impact on the appreciation capacity of EPCs. 3)HGF could increased Ad-c-Met-EPCs migration with concentration increasing(0-50 ng/ml). 4)The migration capacity of HGF+Ad-c-Met-EPCs and P-Akt protein were significantly higher than other groups(P<0.05). Conclusion HGF/c-Met can remarkably increase the migration capacity of EPCs. Besides, HGF/c-Met may accelerate the migration of EPCs through PI3K/Akt signal path.

Key words: Hepatocyte growth factor, c-Met, endothelial progenitor cells, cell migration