[Recent progress in hepatocyte growth factor research]

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a potent mitogen of mature hepatocytes in primary culture, is composed of 69kDa alpha-chain having four kringle domains and 34kDa beta-chain, which has 38% homology with plasmin. HGF is currently thought to be a pleiotropic factor influencing on the epithelial cell growth and motility through epithelial-mesenchymal interaction. HGF has also a potent growth inhibitory activity for some carcinoma cells. HGF mRNA and HGF activity increased rapidly and markedly in each injured organ, when the liver or renal injury was induced in rats. Interestingly, HGF mRNA in the intact lung also increased markedly following partial hepatectomy or uni-lateral nephrectomy, suggesting that the lung may have an endocrine function producing HGF for the liver or renal regeneration in response to injury of the distal organs. HGF may play important roles in organogenesis and homeostasis of organ mass, as well as in organ regeneration.