Scatter factor stimulates migration of vascular endothelium and capillary-like tube formation.

Scatter factors (SFs) are heat- and trypsin-sensitive cytokines secreted by fibroblastic and vascular smooth muscle cell lines which stimulate motility of normal epithelium, carcinoma cells, and vascular endothelium. Human and mouse SFs have been purified and identified as 90 kD heterodimeric proteins consisting of heavy (58 kD) and light (31 kD) disulfide-bonded subunits. Partial amino acid sequence data from SF-derived tryptic peptides indicate marked sequence homology with hepatocyte growth factors, suggesting a common multigene family. In this chapter we describe the regulation by SF of vascular endothelial cell chemotaxis and chemokinesis; migration from microcarrier beads to flat surfaces; invasion through porous filters coated with reconstituted basement membrane; secretion of plasminogen activator; and in vitro capillary-like tube formation on a basement membrane surface.