Metabolism of hepatocyte growth factor in the heart in patients with coronary artery disease: Implication for coronary arteriosclerosis

Purpose: HGF, one of endothelium-specific growth factors, might contribute to the repair process of vascular endothelial cell damage, suggesting that serum HGF concentration may be elevated in patients with arteriosclerosis. However, the cardiac metabolism of HGF has not been examined in patients wi th coronary artery disease (CAD). We examined the levels of hepatocyte grow th factor (HGF) in the coronary circulation and its correlation with the se verity of arteriosclerosis in patients with CAD. Methods: We measured serum HGF concentration obtained from the coronary sin us (CS) and ascending aorta (AA) in patients with atherosclerotic CAD (Grou p E, n = 33) or vasospastic angina (Group V, n = 26), or normal control sub jects (Group N, n = 12). In Group E, the severity of coronary artery stenos is was evaluated using the Gensini's score. Results: Serum HGF concentrations (ng ml) in the CS were 0.112 +/- 0.008 in Group E (p<0.001 vs. Group V, p<0.001 vs. Group N), 0.197 +/- 0.012 in Gro up V(p=0.031 vs. Group N), and 0.245 +/- 0.021 in Group N. Serum HGF concen trations in the AA were 0.282 +/- 0.014 in Group E (p=0.045 vs. Group V, p = 0.021 vs. Group N), 0.246 +/- 0.012 in Group V, and 0.237 +/- 0.009 in Gr oup N. Serum HGF extraction in the heart (HGF in the AA-HGF in the CS) in G roup E (0.170 +/- 0.018) was significantly higher compared with in Group V (0.049 +/- 0.011) or Group N (0.008 +/- 0.005). There was a significant neg ative correlation between the severity of coronary arteriosclerosis and ser um HGF concentration in CS (r = -0.66,p < 0.001), and a significant positiv e correlation between the severity of coronary arteriosclerosis and HGF ext raction in the heart (r = 0.75. P < 0.001). Conclusions: We conclude that the difference of HGF levels between CS and A A in patients with CAD are decreased, and extent of decreases in HGF levels correlates with the severity of coronary arteriosclerosis. The abnormality of HGF metabolism in the heart may contribute to the progression of corona ry arteriosclerosis.