Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) (HGF)

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), also known as scatter factor, is a pleiotropic cytokine and growth factor primarily secreted by mesenchymal cells [1.1.2, 1.3.2]. It acts as a potent mitogen, motogen, and morphogen by binding to its high-affinity receptor, the c-Met tyrosine kinase, which is expressed on epithelial and endothelial cells [1.3.1, 1.3.3]. HGF plays a vital role in embryonic development, organ regeneration (particularly in the liver and kidney), and wound healing through its pro-survival, pro-migratory, and angiogenic properties [1.3.1, 1.3.4]. In the context of oncology, dysregulation of the HGF/c-Met axis—often through HGF overexpression or MET amplification—promotes tumor growth, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metastasis, making it a significant therapeutic target [1.2.1, 1.2.3]. Clinical strategies include the use of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to inhibit HGF in cancer and recombinant HGF or gene therapy to promote tissue repair in cardiovascular and fibrotic diseases [1.2.1, 1.3.4].

Other names

Scatter factor (SF)Hepatopoietin-A (HPTA)F-TCFHGFBDFNB39

Neutralization of HGF to prevent binding to c-Met receptor; Potentiation of HGF/c-Met signaling for tissue regeneration; Gene therapy to induce local HGF expression