Hepatocyte growth factor and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

Short- and medium-term air pollution exposure, plasmatic protein levels and blood pressure in children

Exposure to air pollution influences children's health, however, the biological mechanisms underlying these effects are not completely elucidated. We investigated the association between short- and medium-term outdoor air pollution exposure with protein profiles and their link with blood pressure in 1170 HELIX children aged 6-11 years. Different air pollutants (NO₂, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM_2.5abs) were estimated based on residential and school addresses at three different windows of exposure (1-day, 1-week, and 1-year before clinical and molecular assessment). Thirty-six proteins, including adipokines, cytokines, or apolipoproteins, were measured in children's plasma using Luminex. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) were measured following a standardized protocol. We performed an association study for each air pollutant at each location and time window and each outcome, adjusting for potential confounders. After correcting for multiple-testing, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and interleukin 8 (IL8) levels were positively associated with 1-week home exposure to some of the pollutants (NO₂, PM₁₀, or PM_2.5). NO₂ 1-week home exposure was also related to higher SBP. The mediation study suggested that HGF could explain 19% of the short-term effect of NO₂ on blood pressure, but other study designs are needed to prove the causal directionality between HGF and blood pressure.

Hemoglobin as a possible biochemical index of hypertension-induced vascular damage

Background

We previously reported on the positive association of hemoglobin with hypertension and atherosclerosis. On the other hand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been evaluated as a possible biochemical index of hypertension-induced vascular damage. However, no studies have reported on a correlation between hemoglobin and HGF accounting for hypertension status.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 1108 subjects (392 men and 716 women, 40–93 years old) who were undergoing a general checkup in 2014 was conducted.

Results

Multiple linear regression analysis adjustment for known cardiovascular risk factors showed no significant correlation between hemoglobin and HGF in non-hypertensive subjects, but a significant positive correlation in hypertensive subjects; β (parameter estimate) = 0.3 (p = 0.975) for non-hypertensive men, β = 0.4 (p = 0.925) for non-hypertensive women, β = 32.7 (p < 0.001) for hypertensive men, and β = 18.7 (p = 0.002) for hypertensive women.

Conclusion

We found a significant positive correlation between hemoglobin and HGF among hypertensive men and women. Like HGF, hemoglobin may be a useful indicator to evaluate hypertension-induced vascular damage. Since hemoglobin can easily be measured, these results support hemoglobin as an efficient tool to evaluate vascular damage induced by hypertension in daily medical practice.

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of HGF/Met in the cardiovascular system

Met tyrosine kinase receptor, also known as c-Met, is the HGF (hepatocyte growth factor) receptor. The HGF/Met pathway has a prominent role in cardiovascular remodelling after tissue injury. The present review provides a synopsis of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of HGF/Met in the heart and blood vessels. In vivo, HGF/Met function is particularly important for the protection of the heart in response to both acute and chronic insults, including ischaemic injury and doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Accordingly, conditional deletion of Met in cardiomyocytes results in impaired organ defence against oxidative stress. After ischaemic injury, activation of Met provides strong anti-apoptotic stimuli for cardiomyocytes through PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase)/Akt and MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) cascades. Recently, we found that HGF/Met is also important for autophagy regulation in cardiomyocytes via the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway. HGF/Met induces proliferation and migration of endothelial cells through Rac1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1) activation. In fibroblasts, HGF/Met antagonizes the actions of TGFβ1 (transforming growth factor β1) and AngII (angiotensin II), thus preventing fibrosis. Moreover, HGF/Met influences the inflammatory response of macrophages and the immune response of dendritic cells, indicating its protective function against atherosclerotic and autoimmune diseases. The HGF/Met axis also plays an important role in regulating self-renewal and myocardial regeneration through the enhancement of cardiac progenitor cells. HGF/Met has beneficial effects against myocardial infarction and endothelial dysfunction: the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying repair function in the heart and blood vessels are common and include pro-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic actions. Thus administration of HGF or HGF mimetics may represent a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of both coronary and peripheral artery disease.

Circulating hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in patients with comorbidity of chronic heart failure, type 2 diabetes mellitus and impaired lipid metabolism

AIM: To evaluate the plasma level of circulating heptocyte growth factor (HGF) in patients with comorbidity of post-infarction chronic heart failure (CHF), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. We also aimed to assess possible correlations between HGF levels and parameters of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, as well as myocardial functional characteristics and classic biochemical severity markers for CHF.17Сахар ный диабет КардиологияСахарный диабет. 2013;(2):17-25 MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 100 patients for participation in this study, including the following subgroups: 20 individuals with- out cardiovascular and glycemic disorders, 30 patients with CHF, 25 patients with CHF/T2DM comorbidity and 25 diabetic patients with no signs of heart failure. Quantitative plasma HGF analysis was performed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Plasma HGF was elevated both in patients with CHF and T2DM as measured against healthy control group. The elevation was most prominent in patients with CHF/T2DM comorbidity and was found to correlate with HbA1c level (r=0.52, p=0.03). Plasma HGF also correlated with BMI (r=0.42, p=0007) in a unified study group, though we observed no statistically significant difference between subgroups with a trend toward higher HGF in obese patients with CHF/T2DM comorbidity (626.1?254.1 pg/ml vs 742.0?210.7 pg/ml respectively; p 0.05). Interestingly, plasma HGF was also significantly higher in controls with BMI 30 km/m2 (324.1?107.7 pg/ml vs 436.9?112.3 pg/ml, p=0.03).Circulating HGF correlated with plasma levels of N-terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and such structural and functional myocardial characteristics as left atrial size and maximum volume along with left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), end-diastolic volume (EDV) and end-diastolic dimension (EDD). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that HGF may potentially serve as a prediction marker for unfavorable myocardial remodeling and poor prognosis in CHF patients with T2DM and obesity, though this possibility should be further investigated in follow-up studies.

Hepatocyte growth factor is a significant risk factor for white matter lesions in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients

BACKGROUND

The presence of white matter lesions (WML) is an important prognostic factor for the development of stroke. Elevated hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) levels are associated with a high mortality rate in type 2 diabetic patients. The preliminary study was therefore designed to test the hypothesis that the presence of WML correlates with HGF and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients not receiving insulin treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Based on brain magnetic resonance imaging, 92 type 2 diabetic patients were divided into two groups: WML-positive group (age 60 +/- 5 years, mean +/- SD, n = 35) and WML-negative group (age 59 +/- 6 years, mean +/- SD, n = 57. The level of blood glucose was assessed by fasting plasma glucose, fasting immunoreactive insulin, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).

RESULTS

The body mass index was higher in the WML-positive group than that in the WML-negative group (P < 0.005). Plasma levels of triglycerides were higher while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower in the WML-positive group than in the WML-negative group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.0001 respectively). Fasting plasma glucose (P < 0.0001), insulin concentrations (P < 0.0001), HOMA index (P < 0.0001) and HGF (< 0.0001) levels were higher in the WML-positive group than in the WML-negative group. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that WML was independently predicted by the high HGF and insulin resistance (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001 respectively).

CONCLUSION

The results of this preliminary study indicate that the presence of WML was associated with the high HGF and insulin resistance in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Hepatocyte growth factor levels are associated with the results of 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine myocardial scintigraphy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Elevated hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) levels and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction are associated with a high mortality rate in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We tested the hypothesis that elevated HGF is associated with insulin resistance and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus not receiving insulin treatment. The study group consisted of 21 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with high HGF levels (>0.26 ng/mL, 58 +/- 5 years old, high-HGF group). The control group consisted of 25 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with normal HGF levels (<or=0.26 ng/mL, 58 +/- 9 years old, normal-HGF group). Cardiovascular autonomic function was assessed by baroreflex sensitivity, heart rate variability, plasma norepinephrine concentrations, and cardiac (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy. Early and delayed (123)I-MIBG myocardial uptake values were lower (P < .005 and P < .01, respectively) and the percentage of washout rate of (123)I-MIBG was higher (P < .001) in the high-HGF group than in the normal-HGF group. The fasting plasma insulin concentrations (P < .0001) and the homeostasis model assessment index values (P < .0001) were higher in the high-HGF group than in the normal-HGF group. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the level of HGF was independently predicted by the homeostasis model assessment index values and the myocardial uptake of (123)I-MIBG at the delayed phase. Our results demonstrate that high levels of HGF are associated with depressed cardiovascular autonomic function and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Predictors for silent cerebral infarction in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis

In patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis (HD), silent cerebral infarctions (SCIs) are associated with high mortality. Levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) increase with renal dysfunction and may be a novel predictor of cerebrovascular events. We examined if HGF is a predictor of SCI in HD patients. Brain magnetic resonance imaging findings were used to divide 50 patients undergoing HD into 2 groups, a group with SCI (age, 61 +/- 8 years, mean +/- SD; n = 27) and a group without SCI (age, 60 +/- 7 years; n = 23). These patients received 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The number of patients with diabetes or hypertension was not different between the 2 groups. We made the following observations: (1) The percentage of smokers was higher in the group with SCI than in the group without SCI (P < .05). (2) Plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were lower and HGF levels were higher in the group with SCI compared with the group without SCI (P < .05 and P < .005, respectively). (3) Systolic ambulatory blood pressure and mean heart rate at night were higher in the group with SCI than in the group without SCI (P < .05). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified HGF as a significant risk factor for SCI (odds ratio, 1.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.57-3.38; P < .005). Our findings indicate that HGF may be a novel useful predictor of SCI in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing HD.

Association between Hepatocyte Growth Factor Gene Polymorphism and Essential Hypertension

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a growth factor which contributes to protection and/or repair of vascular endothelial cells. Serum HGF level is elevated in response to hypertensive organ damage, which suggests that blood pressure regulation may be affected by HGF gene polymorphisms via serum HGF. To examine the interaction between a HGF gene polymorphism and hypertension, we carried out a case-control study. The present study was conducted in outpatients of Osaka University Hospital. Subjects (n=654) who gave informed consent to the study protocol and genetic analysis were recruited. A C to A nucleotide substitution in intron 13 of the HGF gene was determined by the TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method using an MGB (Minor Groove Binder) probe. The genotype distribution of the C/A polymorphism of the HGF gene in total subjects was as follows: CC, 83%; CA, 16%; and AA 1%. This distribution was not significantly different from the predicted by Hardy-Weinberg's equilibrium. The prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in subjects with the CC genotype than in those with an A allele, and the positive association remained after adjustment for confounding factors, with the estimated odds ratio for hypertension (CC vs. CA+AA) being 1.71 (95% confidence interval: 1.02-2.93). A significant association with hypertension was observed in lean or female subjects but not in obese or male subjects. In conclusion, our data suggested that C/A polymorphism in intron 13 of the HGF gene is associated with susceptibility to essential hypertension in lean or female subjects.