title: Therapeutic potential of hepatocyte growth factor against cerebral ischemia (Review).
abstract: The effective treatment for cerebral ischemia has not yet been established. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent pleiotropic cytokine that is involved in cell and tissue regeneration, including in the central nervous system. Studies have demonstrated that an exogenous administration of HGF protects brain tissue from ischemic damage. In response to binding to the receptor c-Met, HGF activates the downstream signaling pathways (including the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt, Ras/MAPK and signal transducer and activator of transcription pathways) which leads to various cellular responses involved in angiogenesis, glial scar formation, anti-apoptosis and neurogenesis. The purpose of this review is to summarize the present understanding of the therapeutic potential of HGF in cerebral ischemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China ; Key Laboratory of Obstetric & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mao
keywords: angiogenesis; antifibrosis; c-Met; cerebral ischemia; hepatocyte growth factor; neurogenesis