title: Therapeutic angiogenesis using hepatocyte growth factor (HGF).
abstract: HGF is a mesenchyme-derived pleiotropic factor, which regulates cell growth, cell motility, and morphogenesis of various types of cells and is thus considered a humoral mediator of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions responsible for morphogenic tissue interactions during embryonic development and organogenesis. Although HGF was originally identified as a potent mitogen for hepatocytes, it has also been identified as a member of angiogenic growth factors. Interestingly, the presence of its specific receptor, c-met, is observed in vascular cells and cardiac myocytes. In addition, among growth factors, the mitogenic action of HGF on human endothelial cells was most potent. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential application of HGF to treat cardiovascular diseases such as peripheral vascular disease, myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular disease. In this review, we will discuss a potential therapeutic strategy using HGF in cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita 565-0871, Japan. morishit@gts.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.forename: Motokuni
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Naotaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hashiya
authors.forename: Keita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: Hitomi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurinami
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takesya
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogihara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor