A novel function of hepatocyte growth factor in the activation of checkpoint kinase 1 phosphorylation in colon cancer cells

The ATR/checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) pathway plays an essential role in modulating the DNA damage response and homologous recombination. Particularly, Chk1 phosphorylation is related to cancer prognosis and therapeutic resistance. Some receptor tyrosine kinases participate in the regulation of Chk1 phosphorylation; however, the effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on Chk1 phosphorylation is unknown. In the present study, we demonstrated that HGF moderately activated Chk1 phosphorylation in colon cancer cells by upregulating TopBP1 and RAD51, and promoting TopBP1–ATR complex formation. Furthermore, AKT activity, which was promoted by HGF, served as an important mediator linking HGF/MET signaling and Chk1 phosphorylation. Depleting AKT activity attenuated basal expression of p-Chk1 and HGF-induced Chk1 activation. Moreover, AKT activity directly regulated TopBP1 and RAD51 expression. AKT inhibition suppressed HGF-induced upregulation of TopBP1 and RAD51, and enhanced TopBP1/ATR complex formation. Our results show that HGF was involved in regulating Chk1 phosphorylation, and further demonstrate that AKT activity was responsible for this HGF-induced Chk1 phosphorylation. These findings might potentially result in management of prognosis and therapeutic sensitivity in cancer therapy.