Hepatocyte growth factor

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is a is_associated_with::paracrine cellular growth, is_associated_with::motility and morphogenic factor. It is secreted by is_associated_with::mesenchymal cells and targets and acts primarily upon is_associated_with::epithelial cells and is_associated_with::endothelial cells, but also acts on haemopoietic progenitor cells. It has been shown to have a major role in embryonic organ development, specifically in is_associated_with::myogenesis, in adult organ regeneration and in wound healing.

Function
Hepatocyte growth factor regulates cell growth, cell motility, and is_associated_with::morphogenesis by activating a is_associated_with::tyrosine kinase signaling cascade after binding to the proto-oncogenic is_associated_with::c-Met receptor. Hepatocyte growth factor is secreted by is_associated_with::mesenchymal cells and acts as a multi-functional is_associated_with::cytokine on cells of mainly epithelial origin. Its ability to stimulate is_associated_with::mitogenesis, cell motility, and matrix invasion gives it a central role in is_associated_with::angiogenesis, is_associated_with::tumorogenesis, and tissue regeneration.

Structure
It is secreted as a single inactive polypeptide and is cleaved by serine proteases into a 69-kDa alpha-chain and 34-kDa beta-chain. A disulfide bond between the alpha and beta chains produces the active, heterodimeric molecule. The protein belongs to the is_associated_with::plasminogen subfamily of S1 peptidases but has no detectable is_associated_with::protease activity.

Clinical significance
is_associated_with::Human HGF plasmid DNA therapy of is_associated_with::cardiomyocytes is being examined as a potential treatment for is_associated_with::coronary artery disease as well as treatment for the damage that occurs to the heart after is_associated_with::myocardial infarction.

HGF may further play a role as an indicator for prognosis of chronicity for is_associated_with::Chikungunya virus induced is_associated_with::arthralgia. High HGF levels correlate with high rates of recovery.

Excessive local expression of HGF, along with is_associated_with::insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) to a lesser extent, in the breasts has been associated with is_associated_with::macromastia.

HGF has been implicated in a variety of is_associated_with::cancers, including of the is_associated_with::lungs, is_associated_with::pancreas, is_associated_with::thyroid, is_associated_with::colon, and is_associated_with::breast.

Interactions
Hepatocyte growth factor has been shown to interact with is_associated_with::C-Met.