Figure 6.

Probing the matriptase-HGF-cMET pathway in human skin. A. Pro-HGF was incubated with increasing amount of active matriptase, as indicated, for 30 min at 37C. The resultant samples were probed for cleavage of HGF by immunoblot analyses using an antibody specific for the beta subunit of HGF. Tissue sections of the hair bulb (panel B) and isthmus of human hair follicles (panel C), sebaceous gland (panel D) and epidermis (panel E) immunostained for the HGF receptor, c-Met. Mouse IgG antibody was used as a negative control (data not shown). Nuclei of cells were counterstained blue with hematoxylin. Scale bar: 50 µm.