Serum hepatocyte growth factor levels are increased in patients with congestive heart failure

Background: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent endothelial cell-specific mitogen. We investigated the clinical importance of HGF in congestive bean failure (CHF). Methods and Results: Thirty-Five patients with acute exacerbation of CHF and 7 control subjects were examined. Serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCS) were isolated from peripheral blood on days 1, 7, and 14 after admission. PBMCs were cultured at a density of 1 x 10(7) cells/mL for 24 hours. HGF levels in serum and the PBMC culture medium and serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum HGF levels in patients with CHF were markedly increased at admission compared with those in control subjects and gradually returned to control levels during hospitalization. HGF levels in the PBMC culture medium were also significantly increased in CHF patients compared with control subjects. There was a positive correlation between HGF levels in serum or those in the PBMC culture medium and serum IL-6 levels. HGF levels in serum and the culture medium were not notably different between CHF patients regularly treated with and without angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Conclusions: HGF levels in serum are increased in patients with acute exacerbation of CHF.