Syndecan-1 binds HGF by its heparan sulfate side chains.

MM cell lines XG-1 and LME-1 and PM cells, Nam and Nam^SYN, were analyzed by FACS for their capacity to bind HGF or the HGF mutant HP1. To determine the involvement of HS in HGF binding, cells were treated with either heparitinase or chondroitinase ABC before incubation with HGF. Binding of HGF or HP1 is shown as the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of cells incubated with HGF or HP1, washed, and stained with a HGF-specific mAb, minus the MFI of identical cells not incubated with HGF.