Elevated serum hepatocyte growth factor in children and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease.
BACKGROUND
Elevated serum levels of several potent angiogenesis factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor have been described in children with active inflammatory bowel disease. Angiogenesis-promoting cytokines may promote inflammation by increasing vascular permeability but also mediate tissue repair by activating fibroblasts. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is another angiogenesis-promoting cytokine that is increased in colon cancer tissues. We therefore evaluated serum HGF levels in individuals with Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis.


METHODS
Serum samples were obtained from 60 patients with Crohn disease, 31 with ulcerative colitis, and 38 controls with functional abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal illnesses. Disease activity for Crohn disease patients was determined using the pediatric Crohn disease activity index, and for ulcerative colitis patients using the Kozarek score. The HGF levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
Serum HGF levels were significantly ( P < 0.001) higher for Crohn disease patients (1439 +/- 84 pg/mL) and ulcerative colitis patients (1384 +/- 107 pg/mL) than for control patients (807 +/- 50 pg/mL). Serum HGF levels also rose with increasing disease activity in individuals with both Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum HGF is elevated in children and young adults who have Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis. Levels of serum HGF correlate directly with disease activity. The raised serum HGF suggests that HGF may mediate angiogenesis and vascular permeability in the mucosa of children with inflammatory bowel disease. Alternatively, the raised serum HGF may be an epiphenomenon of inflammation.
Srivastava
M
M
Combined Program in Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, U.S.A.
Zurakowski
D
D
Cheifetz
P
P
Leichtner
A
A
Bousvaros
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000097:blood; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor