Biological effects of hepatocyte growth factor gene on hepatocyte proliferation

Objective To investigate the influence of autocrine hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) expression on the proliferative potential of human hepatocytes. Methods The recombinant plasmid containing HGF cDNA was transfected into human hepatocyte line QZG with liposome. The expression of HGF protein was observed by fluorescent microscopy in situ hybridization. Hepatocyte proliferation and DNA synthesis were determined by growing curve and Ki 67 immunohistochemical staining. Results The expression of GFP in transfected hepatocytes was seen. Increased DNA synthesis was found by using growing curve and Ki 67 immunohistochemical staining. Conclusions pEGFP HGF expression vector makes it easy to assess the expression of HGF GFP fusion protein and the protein localization on transfected cells. Autocrine expression of HGF presents an advantage for the proliferation on hepatocytes.