Expression of the c-met/hepatocyte growth factor receptor gene during rat liver regeneration induced by carbon tetrachloride

The hepatocyte growth factor is closely related to liver regeneration. And the c-met protooncogene is reported to encode a hepatocyte growth factor receptor. Little is known, however, about how the c-met gene is activated during liver regeneration. In this study, we demonstrated that expression of the c-met gene/hepatocyte growth factor gene was enhanced, with a distinct peak, following carbon tetrachloride administration, i.e., the gene expression was activated at 6 hours after the treatment, then decreased, and again increased. The present study suggested that this gene could be responding to liver regeneration and that the hepatocyte growth factor receptor plays an important role in regulating cell cycle progression prior to elevation of deoxynucleic acid synthesis during liver regeneration.