Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) promotes cell migration and adhesion via focal adhesion kinase

Abstract Background Cell migration and adhesion are essential in intestinal epithelial wound healing and recovery from injury. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) plays an important role in cell–extracellular matrix signal transduction. We have previously shown that heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) promotes intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) migration and adhesion in vitro . The present study was designed to determine whether FAK is involved in HB-EGF–induced IEC migration and adhesion. Materials and methods A scrape wound healing model of rat IECs was used to examine the effect of HB-EGF on FAK-dependent cell migration in vitro . Immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of HB-EGF on the expression of phosphorylated FAK (p-FAK). Cell adhesion assays were performed to determine the role of FAK in HB-EGF–induced cell adhesion on fibronectin (FN). Results HB-EGF significantly increased healing after scrape wounding, an effect that was reversed in the presence of an FAK inhibitor 14 (both with P