Hepatocyte growth factor as an indicator of neonatal maturity

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent mitogen and morphogen expressed in fetal organs. It requires activation by specific serine proteases. The role of activated HGF during fetal development has not been evaluated. We hypothesized that the serum levels of activated HGF would be increased in preterm neonates. Cord blood total HGF and activated HGF levels were measured in 19 preterm (gestational age, 28.04 +/- 2.39 weeks) and 24 term (gestational age, 39.37 +/- 0.95 weeks) newborns. Anthropometric parameters and metabolic indices were evaluated. Activated HGF was higher in preterm than in term neonates (0.81 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.61 +/- 0.06 ng/mL, p<0.05), whereas total HGF levels did not differ significantly between groups. In addition, total and activated HGF further increased by similar to 40% in preterm neonates 12 h after birth. Finally, activated HGF correlated inversely with gestational age (r=-0.369; p=0.015) and birth weight (r=-0.440; p=0.003). Our study demonstrates that regulation of HGF activity and circulating HGF levels differ between term and preterm neonates along fetal development.