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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Rat Mesentery Angiogenesis Assay
Published on: June 18, 2011
Roles of hepatocyte growth factor and mast cells in thrombosis and angiogenesis
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Kawahara-cho Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan. amat@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Concentrations of the circulating hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) increase in the very early phase of acute myocardial infarction, and are a marker of arterial thrombosis. A recently developed, highly sensitive HGF assay can detect the early stages of arterial thrombosis in patients with unstable angina pectoris, acute aortic dissection and pulmonary thromboembolism. Heparin rapidly induces the release of HGF into the circulation, and HGF is a major factor involved in heparin-induced angiogenesis. Furthermore, the activation of mast cells by thrombus formation releases HGF into the circulation. This new pathway, thrombus formation-mast cell activation- degranulation-heparin-HGF-angiogenesis, may be both diagnostically useful and a therapeutic target.
Concentrations of the circulating hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) increase in the very early phase of acute myocardial infarction, and are a marker of arterial thrombosis. A recently developed, highly sensitive HGF assay can detect the early stages of arterial thrombosis in patients with unstable angina pectoris, acute aortic dissection and pulmonary thromboembolism. Heparin rapidly induces the release of HGF into the circulation, and HGF is a major factor involved in heparin-induced angiogenesis. Furthermore, the activation of mast cells by thrombus formation releases HGF into the circulation. This new pathway, thrombus formation-mast cell activation- degranulation-heparin-HGF-angiogenesis, may be both diagnostically useful and a therapeutic target.
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