HGF/Met Axis in Heart Function and Cardioprotection

Biomedicines

Simona Gallo¹  Valentina Sala¹  Stefano Gatti¹  Tiziana Crepaldi¹ 

[1] Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Corso Massimo D’Azeglio 52, 10126 Turin, Italy; E-Mails:

关键词: hepatocyte growth factor;    Met tyrosine kinase receptor;    heart development;    cardiotoxicity;    cardioprotection;    myocardial infarction;    angiogenesis;    fibrosis;    inflammation;    cardiac regeneration;   

DOI  :  10.3390/biomedicines2040247

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its tyrosine kinase receptor (Met) play important roles in myocardial function both in physiological and pathological situations. In the developing heart, HGF influences cardiomyocyte proliferation and differentiation. In the adult, HGF/Met signaling controls heart homeostasis and prevents oxidative stress in normal cardiomyocytes. Thus, the possible cardiotoxicity of current Met-targeted anti-cancer therapies has to be taken in consideration. In the injured heart, HGF plays important roles in cardioprotection by promoting: (1) prosurvival (anti-apoptotic and anti-autophagic) effects in cardiomyocytes, (2) angiogenesis, (3) inhibition of fibrosis, (4) anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory signals, and (5) regeneration through activation of cardiac stem cells. Furthermore, we discuss the putative role of elevated HGF as prognostic marker of severity in patients with cardiac diseases. Finally, we examine the potential of HGF-based molecules as new therapeutic tools for the treatment of cardiac diseases.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.