Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2026
Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs
Published on: October 31, 2025
Lower concentration of pulmonary hepatocyte growth factor is associated with more severe lung disease in preterm
Patrik Lassus1, Päivi Heikkilä, Leif C Andersson
1Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Stenbäckinkatu 11, 00290 Helsinki, Finland. patrick.lassus@helsinki.fi
Insights
Lower concentrations of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in tracheal aspirate fluid (TAF) are linked to more severe lung disease in preterm infants. This finding highlights HGF's potential role in neonatal respiratory health.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pulmonary Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is crucial for lung development and repair in animal models.
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a significant complication in preterm infants, characterized by chronic lung disease.
- The role of HGF in perinatal lung development and BPD pathogenesis in humans is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between HGF levels in tracheal aspirate fluid (TAF) and the development of BPD in preterm infants.
- To explore the relationship between HGF concentration and the severity of acute respiratory distress in the early neonatal period.
Main Methods:
- HGF levels were measured in TAF samples from 172 preterm infants within the first two postnatal weeks.
- Infants were categorized based on the subsequent development of BPD and the severity of respiratory support required (surfactant therapy, mechanical ventilation).
Main Results:
- Preterm infants who later developed BPD had significantly lower HGF concentrations in TAF compared to those who survived without BPD.
- Lower HGF levels were associated with increased severity of acute respiratory distress, including the need for surfactant therapy and prolonged mechanical ventilation.
- A trend towards lower HGF with a higher number of surfactant doses was observed.
Conclusions:
- Reduced HGF concentration in TAF during the early neonatal period is associated with more severe lung disease in human preterm infants.
- These findings suggest a potential protective role for HGF in preventing or mitigating lung injury in neonates.
- Further research is warranted to explore HGF as a therapeutic target for BPD.
Objectives:
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) participates in normal lung development and in regeneration after lung injury in animals. We studied the role of HGF during the perinatal period and in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
Study Design:
HGF was measured in 172 tracheal aspirate fluid samples (TAF) from 17 preterm infants in whom BPD subsequently developed (gestational age, 27.2+/-1.7 weeks; body weight, 828+/-210 g) and from 15 who survived without BPD (gestational age, 26.8+/-1.9 weeks; body weight, 994+/-265 g) during the first 2 postnatal weeks.
Results:
Infants with subsequent development of BPD had lower HGF in TAF (45+/-9 pg/mL per IgA-sc) than those surviving without BPD (102+/-32 pg/mL per IgA-sc; P=.028). Lower HGF in TAF were seen in infants with more severe acute respiratory distress as defined as requirement for surfactant therapy (50+/-14 vs 146+/-50 pg/mL per IgA-sc in infants requiring no surfactant; P=.0001), for higher number of surfactant doses (r=-0.16, P=.06), and for mechanical ventilation >1 week (167+/-51 vs 51+/-14 pg/mL per IgA-sc in infants intubated <1 week; P=.0012).
Conclusions:
These data show an association between lower HGF concentration in TAF and more severe lung disease in human preterm infants in the early neonatal period.
