Exercise-induced hepatocyte growth factor production in patients after acute myocardial infarction: its relationship to exercise capacity and brain natriuretic peptide levels.
BACKGROUND
The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a multifunctional cytokine with cardioprotective properties and potent myogenic activity for vascular endothelium. In patients after acute myocardial infarction, exercise training has the beneficial effects on cardiovascular adaptations. We hypothesized that exercise induces HGF production in those patients. If this hypothesis is correct, HGF production may be associated with clinical parameters of cardiovascular function.


RESULTS
In 20 patients after acute myocardial infarction, HGF levels in the pulmonary artery (HGF(PA)) and aorta (HGF(Ao)) were determined at rest and during supine submaximal exercise, with cardiac output (CO) measured by catheterization. Exercise-induced HGF production was calculated by using the following equation: [(HGF(PA)-HGF(Ao))xCO during exercise]-[(HGF(PA)-HGF(Ao))xCO at rest]. On a separate day, peak oxygen uptake (VO2) was determined during a symptom-limited upright cardiopulmonary exercise test. Exercise increased HGF production (from 1.6 +/- 3.0 to 9.0 +/- 6.3 microg/ml, p<0.001). Exercise-induced HGF production was inversely related to peak VO2 (r=-0.664, p<0.01) and positively related to levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a biochemical marker for post-infarction ventricular remodeling (r=0.686, p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Exercise significantly increases HGF production. This phenomenon may play an important role in post-infarction patients, particularly with reduced exercise tolerance and elevated BNP levels.
Yasuda
Satoshi
S
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, National Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan. syasuda@hsp.ncvc.go.jp
Goto
Yoichi
Y
Takaki
Hiroshi
H
Asaumi
Yasuhide
Y
Baba
Takeshi
T
Miyazaki
Shunichi
S
Nonogi
Hirohi
H
D000368:Aged; D003289:Convalescence; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D016683:Supine Position; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling
D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor