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Thromb Haemost 2012; 107(04): 656-661
DOI: 10.1160/TH11-10-0711
Review Article
Schattauer GmbH

Hepatocyte growth factor: Molecular biomarker and player in cardioprotection and cardiovascular regeneration

Rosalinda Madonna
1   Texas Heart Institute and St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
2   Institute of Cardiology, “G. d’Annunzio” University, Chieti, Italy
,
Cihan Cevik
1   Texas Heart Institute and St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
,
Maher Nasser
1   Texas Heart Institute and St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
3   Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
,
Raffaele De Caterina
2   Institute of Cardiology, “G. d’Annunzio” University, Chieti, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 16 October 2011

Accepted after minor revision: 03 January 2012

Publication Date:
29 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

The liver possesses impressive regenerative capacities. Grafts of embryonic liver explants and liver explant-conditioned media have been shown to enhance the mitotic activity of hepatocytes. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), also named scatter factor (SF), has been identified as a primary candidate in promoting and regulating liver regeneration. Although initially thought to be a liver-specific mitogen, HGF was later reported to have mitogenic, motogenic, morphogenic, and anti-apoptotic activities in various cell types. By promoting angiogenesis and inhibiting apoptosis, endogenous HGF may play an important role in cardioprotection as well as in the regeneration of endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes after myocardial infarction. Since serum concentration of HGF increases in the early phase of myocardial infarction and in heart failure, HGF may also play a key role as a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker of cardiovascular disease. Here we discuss the role of HGF as a biomarker and mediator in cardioprotection and cardiovascular regeneration.

Keywords

Hepatocyte growth factor - myocardial infarction - heart failure - biomarker - adult stem cells - cardioprotection
 

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