Scatter factor and other regulators of cell mobility.

The scatter factor is a basic protein with an apparent molecular weight of about 62K, which is released from certain strains and lines of cultured fibroblasts. It affects the mobility, morphology, and cell to cell attachment of epithelial cells in culture and there is some evidence of an effect on early embryo development. Fibroblasts are unaffected by the factor and there is a negligible effect on cell growth. The scatter factor differs from a similar agent, the autocrine motility factor, in its paracrine role, its lack of association with tumour cells, and in some biochemical features, but both may be representatives of a group of cytokines which regulate cell motility.