Abstract
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), originally identified and cloned as a long-sought hepatotrophic factor, has mitogenic, motogenic, morphogenic, and anti-apoptotic activities for a wide variety cells. Tissue expression and blood levels of HGF rapidly increases in response to acute injury and endogenously induced HGF plays a role for protection and regeneration/repair of injured tissues. During progression of chronic fibrotic diseases such as liver cirrhosis and chronic renal failure, the expression of HGF decreases in manner reciprocal to the increase in expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), a key player in tissue fibrosis. Supplement of exogenenous HGF prevents the onset of acute organ failure and chronic fibrotic diseases in laboratory animals. Thus, HGF may be effective for treatment of patients with diseases, by enhancing the intrinsic ability of tissue to regenerate. Our results provide a new therapeutic strategy for practice in regenerative medicine.
