Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we measured the concentrat
ion of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in human aqueous humor and serum
from 36 eyes of 33 patients and analyzed the relationship between HGF
and several parameters of corneal endothelial cells. Aqueous HGF conc
entrations ranged from 0.020-0.194 ng/mL (average: 0.101 +/- 0.034 ng/
mL) and was correlated positively with corneal endothelial cell densit
y (r = 0.343, P = 0.01). The aqueous HGF level did not correlate with
other corneal endothelial cell parameters or the serum HGF level. The
HGF receptor, c-Met, was found in the corneal endothelial cell membran
es. This study suggests that the aqueous humor HGF is a factor which m
aintains an integrity of corneal endothelial cells. (C) 1997 Japanese
Ophthalmological Society.