title: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and hemodialysis: physiopathology and clinical implications.
abstract: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a pleiotropic cytokine which exerts a variety of effects on several cells, being involved in the regulation of many biological processes, such as inflammation, tissue repair, morphogenesis, angiogenesis, tumour propagation, immunomodulation of viral infections and cardio-metabolic activities. Patients undergoing regular hemodialysis (HD) present elevated levels of HGF, mainly due to the leukocyte activation associated with HD treatment. High HGF levels might account for specific clinical features of HD patients, i.e. mild liver damage in course of HCV-infection and high cardiovascular risk profile. Moreover, in patients with acute kidney injury, the induction of HGF may represent a crucial step to promote renal recovery, which can have important prognostic consequences in the short and long-term. In this review we discuss the mechanisms underlying HGF production in HD patients, the role of HGF in this particular patient population and the potential clinical implications derived from the study of HGF in HD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Piazzale Golgi 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Libetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Piazzale Golgi 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy. pasqualeesposito@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0834-5586
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Piazzale Golgi 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Piazzale Golgi 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grosjean
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Piazzale Golgi 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gregorini
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Piazzale Golgi 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rampino
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Piazzale Golgi 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dal Canton
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C066855:HGF protein, human; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor
keywords: AKI; HCV; HGF; Hemodialysis; Tissue repair