Objective To review the latest research progress on keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), to thoroughlyunderstand its basic characteristics and appl ication methods and to lay a sol id foundation for the research and development of new KGF medicines and improving the qual ity of skin substitutes. Methods Domestical and international l iteratures on KGFin recent years were extensively reviewed and analyzed. Results KGF was secreted by mesenchymal cells and its receptors were distributed in epithel ium to promote the prol iferation, migration and differentiation of epithel ial cell specifically, which closely related to the organ development, wound heal ing, tumorigenesis and immune reconstruction. Conclusion KGF can be used to improve wound heal ing and the performance of skin substitutes. However, the structure of KGF needs to be changed to el iminate its side effects and purify its promoting effect on epithel ial cell growth.
Objective To investigate the different influence of the expression levels of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) after the unilateral phrenectomy in piglets. Methods Thirty-six piglets were divided into 3 groups according to their ages during the operation (10 d,30 d,50 d). In each group, 6 piglets underwent the left cervical phrenectomy and 6 piglets were used as the shamoperation controls. The expression levels of EGF and KGF were determined by the real time quantitative RT-PCR at 2 weeks after operation.Results The melting curves of RTPCR showed that there was a single peark at the temperature of 80.0, 84.5 and 89.0℃ of EGF,KGF and GAPDH, respectively. In the experimental group, the expression levels of EGF were 3.53±0.36 and 1.73±0.29, and the expression levels of KGF were 4.71±0.42 and 2.77±0.29 in thepiglets undergiong the operation at their ages of 10 d and 30 d.Compared with the control group,the expression levels of EGF (4.60±0.41，2.18±0.24) and KGF(6.05±0.42，3.58±0.31) showed that there was a significant decrease postoperatively in the piglets undergoing the operation at their ages of 10 d and 30 d（P＜0.05）. However, there was no significant change in the piglets undergoing the operation at their ages of 50 d（P＞0.05）. The expression levels of EGF and KGF were significantly decreased with the lung development of the piglets（P＜0.05）. Conclusion The unilateral phrenectomy performed in the piglets younger than 30 d may cause abnormity of the EGF and KGF expression levels. The piglets older than 50 d may not cause a significant influence.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and cyclooxygen-ase-2 (COX-2) protein and microvessel density (MVD), and to explore their function and mechanism in the multistep process of gastric cancer. MethodsThe expressions of KGF and COX-2 protein in 64 samples of gastric cancer and 30 cases of normal gastric mucosa tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. The MVD was detected by staining the endothelial cells in microvessles using anti-CD34 antibody. ResultsThe positive rate of KGF and COX-2 protein expression in gastric cancer were 65.6% (42/64) and 79.7% (51/64), respectively, which was significantly higher than that in normal gastric mucosa tissues 〔(23.3%, 7/30), P=0.046; (13.3%, 4/30), P=0.008〕. The MVD of gastric cancer was 31.8±8.0, which was significantly higher than that of normal gastric mucosa tissues (14.3±6.1), P=0.000. The MVD in gastric cancer with coexpressive KGF and COX-2 protein was 35.9±5.7, which was significant higher than that with non-coexpressive KGF and COX-2 protein (25.7±7.0), P=0.000. Both the expression of KGF and COX-2 protein were related to the invasion of serosa, lymph node metastasis and TNM staging (Plt;0.05, Plt;0.01). The MVD of gastric cancer tissues was related to lymph node metastasis and TNM staging (Plt;0.05), but unrelated to patient’s age, gender, and differentiation of tumor (Pgt;0.05). The co-expression of KGF and COX-2 protein was frequently found in patients with deeper invasion of serosa, lymph node metastasis, and higher TNM staging (Plt;0.05), but which was not associated withpatient’sage, gender, and differentiation of tumor (Pgt;0.05). The expression of KGF protein was positively correlated to the expression of COX-2 protein (r=0.610, P=0.000). There was positive correlation between MVD and the expression of KGF (r=0.675, P=0.000) and COX-2 protein (r=0.657, P=0.000) in gastric cancer, respectively. ConclusionKGF and COX-2 highly expressed by gastric cancer, which may be involved in the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer by synergisticly promoting the angiogenesis.