OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical significance of circulating hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and the role of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (monocytes), which are a possible source of HGF, in patients with acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN AND PATIENTS 37 patients with acute myocardial infarction and 13 normal control subjects were recruited. Peripheral venous blood samples were dra...

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) exerts biological activity through the Met receptor tyrosine kinase. HGF plays essential roles in the embryonic development of the liver and placenta, and in the migration of myogenic precursor cells. In mature tissues, HGF plays roles in tissue protection and regeneration, including in the liver and kidney. HGF participates in invasion, metastasis, and drug resis...

the ultimate goal of the periodontal treatments is a regeneration of periodontium. recently, laser irradiations are commonly used to improve wound repair. because of many controversies about the effects of laser on soft tissue regeneration, more in vitro studies are still needed. the aim of the present in vitro study was to compare the effects of different doses of er:yag (erbium-doped:yttrium,...

We have studied the role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/Met signaling in the development of sympathetic neuroblasts and neurons. Anti-HGF antibodies reduced the number of sympathetic neuroblasts that differentiated into neurons, but neither anti-HGF antibodies nor HGF affected neuroblast proliferation. Anti-HGF antibodies also reduced the survival of neuroblasts but not sympathetic neurons. ...

Nonlinearity in the overall elimination of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was examined in rats. After intravenous administration, the plasma clearance (CLplasma) of HGF exhibited a dose-dependent biphasic reduction with high- and low-affinity components. If we consider our previous finding that both receptor-mediated endocytosis (RME) and a low-affinity uptake mechanism, probably mediated by he...

The angiotensin IV analog norleual [Nle-Tyr-Leu-ψ-(CH(2)-NH(2))-Leu-His-Pro-Phe] has been shown recently to act as a hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/Met antagonist capable of blocking the binding of HGF to the Met receptor, inhibiting HGF-dependent activation of Met, and attenuating HGF-dependent cellular activities. In addition, norleual exhibited marked anticancer activity. Homology between no...

Cholestasis, an impairment of bile outflux, frequently occurs in liver diseases. In this process, an overaccumulation of bile acids causes hepatocyte necrosis and apoptosis, leading to advanced hepatitis. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is mitogenic toward hepatocytes, but it is still unclear whether HGF has physiological and therapeutic functions during the progression of cholestasis. Using ant...

During ovarian follicle growth, precise regulation of the onset of androgen production by ovarian theca-interstitial cells (TIC) is necessary for maintaining follicle viability. Thus, temporary suppression of TIC androgen production in preantral follicles is the key to promoting follicle development. Evidence indicates that this process is coordinated via intraovarian growth factors. Hepatocyte...

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a heparin-binding factor, is synthesized as a single-chain inactive precursor (pro-HGF), which is converted by proteolysis to an active heterodimer (mature HGF). HGF has pleiotropic activities and has been implicated in the regulation of mitogenesis, motogenesis, and morphogenesis of epithelial and endothelial cells. As polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) secret...

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a most potent growth factor for mature hepatocytes may act as a trigger for liver regeneration. We reported that HGF strongly stimulates DNA synthesis of rabbit renal tubular cells in secondary culture (Igawa, T., Kanda, S., Kanetake, H., Saitoh, Y., Ichihara, A., Tomita, Y., and Nakamura, T. (1991) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 174, 831-838). To investigate whe...