Roles of Hepatocyte Growth Factor and Mast Cells in Thrombosis and Angiogenesis

Author: Akira Matsumori

Source: Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy, Volume 18, Number 4, July 2004 , pp. 321-326(6)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Concentrations of the circulating hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) increase in the very early phase of acute myocardial infarction, and are a marker of arterial thrombosis. A recently developed, highly sensitive HGF assay can detect the early stages of arterial thrombosis in patients with unstable angina pectoris, acute aortic dissection and pulmonary thromboembolism.

Heparin rapidly induces the release of HGF into the circulation, and HGF is a major factor involved in heparin-induced angiogenesis. Furthermore, the activation of mast cells by thrombus formation releases HGF into the circulation. This new pathway, thrombus formation-mast cell activation- degranulation-heparin-HGF-angiogenesis, may be both diagnostically useful and a therapeutic target.

Keywords: hepatocyte growth factor; mast cells; heparin; arterial thrombosis; angiogenesis

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/B:CARD.0000041252.33870.74

Affiliations: 1: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan., Email: amat@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Publication date: 2004-07-01