SERUM HEPATOCYTE GROWTH-FACTOR AS A POSSIBLE INDICATOR OF ARTERIOSCLEROSIS

Objective To investigate the possible involvement of hepatocyte growth factor in arteriosclerotic lesions, by studying the relationship betw een serum concentrations of hepatocyte growth factor and grades of ret inal arteriosclerosis. Methods We measured the blood pressure, body ma ss index, serum concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipo protein cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, uric acid, total prote in, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehy drogenase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, and hep atocyte growth factor, erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration, a nd hematocrit levels of 112 adults. Serum concentrations of hepatocyte growth factor were measured by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For each subject, photographs of both optic fundi were taken, and the grade of arteriosclerotic changes in the retinal arteries was evaluated according to Scheie's classification. Results Individuals wi th more advanced grades of arteriosclerotic changes had higher serum h epatocyte growth factor values (grade 0, 0.056 + 0.004 ng/ml, n = 86; grade 1, 0.132 + 0.026 ng/ml, n = 17, P < 0.01, versus grade O; grade 2-3, 0.271 + 0.023 ng/ml, n = 9, P< 0.01, versus grades 0 and 1). The serum hepatocyte growth factor concentrations were also correlated sig nificantly to the serum uric acid concentrations (r = 0.230, P = 0.015 ) and erythrocyte counts (r = 0.299, P = 0.001), but not to the systol ic and diastolic blood pressures, and other physical and humoral param eters. Conclusions Serum hepatocyte growth factor levels are thought t o indicate the presence or development of arteriosclerotic lesions and may be a useful biochemical parameter for estimating the development of systemic arteriosclerosis irrespective of blood pressure levels.