Hepatocyte growth factor: clinical implications in hepatobiliary pancreatic surgery

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), originally identified as the most potent mitogen for hepatocytes, is now known to be a cytokine with numerous functions in a wide variety of cells. HGF transduces its various activities via a receptor encoded by the c-met proto-oncogene and coupled to a number of transducers integrating the HGF signal inside the target cells. Extcnsive investigation has revealed that HGF has various beneficial effects, especially for liver. HGF significantly stimulates regeneration in damaged, as well as in normal liver, ameliorates hepatic fibrosis/cirrhosis; and attenuates various types of liver dysfunction in animals. Moreover, the fascinating data on HGF in experimental liver and islet transplantation suggest that the use of HGF may represent a breakthrough for reducing the shortage of donor livers, and increasing the success rate of insulin independence after islet transplantation. Further understanding of the biological significance of HGF, including that in carcinogenesis, will undoubtedly have important clinical implications in hepatobiliary pancreatic surgery.