[Physiologic and physiopathologic role of hepatocyte growth factor]

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), originally described as an hepatocyte specific mitogen, has been shown to be a potent stimulator of DNA synthesis in a wide variety of cell types. In addition to its mitogenic effect, HGF has the unique ability to transmit information that determines the spatial organization of epithelial cells in tissues as well as induce cell migration and invasion of extracellular matrix in a variety of epithelial cells. HGF is involved in physiological processes like embryogenesis and development, and also in pathophysiological process as regeneration and carcinogenesis. Although the role that HGF plays in liver cancer is not clear, the findings strongly suggest that it influences the malignant cells. The present paper shows a review on the advances in the knowledge of HGF in physiological processes and in those related to liver diseases.