Effects of serine proteases on pro-HGF from specific granules.

Aliquots of purified specific granules were incubated at 37°C for 10 and 60 minutes with 10 pmol elastase/ng pro-HGF (E10, E60), 10 pmol cathepsin G/ng pro-HGF (C10, C60), or 10 IU uPA/ng pro-HGF (U10, U60); specific granules (gr) incubated in the medium alone for 60 minutes served as control. Proteins were then subjected to Western blot analysis in reducing conditions and revealed with antihuman HGF monoclonal antibodies. These data are representative of one experiment of 3.