Hepatocyte growth factor: New arsenal in the fights against renal fibrosis?

Abstract

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has emerged as a potent, endogenous antifibrotic factor that shows an impressive efficacy in ameliorating tissue fibrosis in a wide variety of animal models. Herrero-Fresneda et al. provide new evidence demonstrating that intramuscular injection of HGF gene reduces mortality, inflammation, and renal fibrosis in chronic allograft nephropathy. © 2006 International Society of Nephrology.