Biological effects of targeted inactivation of hepatocyte growth factor-like protein in mice

Hepatocyte growth factor-like protein (HGFL) is a liver-derived serum glycoprotein involved in cell proliferation and differentiation, and is proposed to have a fundamental role in embryogenesis, fertility, hematopoiesis, macrophage activation, and tissue repair. To assess the in vivo effects of tot...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of clinical investigation 1998-03, Vol.101 (5), p.1175-1183
Main Authors: Bezerra, J A, Carrick, T L, Degen, J L, Witte, D, Degen, S J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alleles
Animals
Colitis - genetics
Colitis - metabolism
Cytoplasm - metabolism
Embryo, Mammalian - physiology
Fertility
Gene Library
Genetic Vectors
Growth Substances - genetics
Growth Substances - physiology
Hematopoiesis
Hepatocyte Growth Factor - genetics
Hepatocyte Growth Factor - metabolism
Lipid Metabolism
Liver - cytology
Liver - metabolism
Macrophage Activation
Macrophages, Peritoneal - metabolism
Mice
Mutagenesis, Insertional
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Proto-Oncogene Proteins
Recombination, Genetic
Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
Thioglycolates - pharmacology
Vacuoles - metabolism
Wound Healing - genetics
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Summary:Hepatocyte growth factor-like protein (HGFL) is a liver-derived serum glycoprotein involved in cell proliferation and differentiation, and is proposed to have a fundamental role in embryogenesis, fertility, hematopoiesis, macrophage activation, and tissue repair. To assess the in vivo effects of total loss of HGFL, we generated mice with targeted disruption of the gene resulting in loss of the protein. Disruption of the HGFL gene allowed for normal embryogenesis, and followed a Mendelian pattern of genetic transmission. Mice homozygous for the targeted allele (HGFL-/- mice) are fertile, and grow to adulthood without obvious phenotypic abnormalities in unchallenged animals, except for development of lipid-containing cytoplasmic vacuoles in hepatocytes throughout the liver lobules. These histologic changes are not accompanied by discernible changes in synthetic or excretory hepatic functions. Hematopoiesis appears unaltered, and although macrophage activation is delayed in the absence of HGFL, migration to the peritoneal cavity upon challenge with thioglycollate was similar in HGFL-/- and wild-type mice. Challenged with incision to skin, HGFL-/- mice display normal wound healing. These data demonstrate that HGFL is not essential for embryogenesis, fertility, or wound healing. HGFL-deficient mice will provide a valuable means to assess the role of HGFL in hepatic and systemic responses to inflammatory and infectious stimuli in vivo.
ISSN:0021-9738
DOI:10.1172/JCI1744