Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) as a potential index of severity of hypertension

Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) is a mesenchyme-derived pleiotropic factor t hat regulates cell growth, cell motility, and morphogenesis of various cell s, and is thus considered a humoral mediator of epithelial-mesenchymal inte ractions. We previously identified HGF as a novel member of the family of e ndothelium-specific growth factors. Moreover, the presence of a local HGF s ystem (HGF and its specific receptor, c-met) has been demonstrated in vascu lar cells both in vitro and in vivo. HGF might contribute to the protection and/or repair of vascular endothelial cells injured by high blood pressure , If so, serum HGF level might be elevated in response to endothelial cell damage, To test this hypothesis, we measured serum levels of HGF in hyperte nsive and normotensive patients. Serum HGF concentration in hypertensive pa tients without any complications was significantly higher than that in norm al subjects, Interestingly, serum HGF concentration in hypertensive patient s with complications was significantly higher than that in either hypertens ive patients without complications or normotensive subjects. Of importance, hypertensive patients treated with antihypertensive drugs showed the same level of serum HGF concentration as normotensive subjects, In contrast, ser um HGF concentration in diabetic patients without hypertension was signific antly lower than that in normal subjects, whereas serum HGF concentration i n diabetic patients with hypertension was significantly higher than that in normal subjects. Moreover, serum HGF concentration in diabetic patients wi th hypertensive complications was even higher than that in diabetics withou t complications. This review discusses the possibility that HGF may be cons idered as a new index of the severity of hypertension.