Hepatocyte growth factor and its receptor Met are induced in crescentic glomerulonephritis

Background. In experimental extracapillary glomerulonephritis (EG) podocytes migrate, proliferate and change phenotype, and play a pivotal role in crescent formation. Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) is an injury-induced effector of tissue repair that causes cell migration, growth and transdifferentiation via its receptor Met. Methods. In 11 patients with EG we measured serum levels of HGF and investigated whether serum induces the release of HGF by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC). In renal biopsies we studied the expression of Met. In cultured podocytes we studied Met expression, migration, growth and morphological changes induced by recombinant (r) HGF. Results. In patients with EG average serum levels of HGF (0.73 ng/ml) were higher than in normal volunteers (N, 0.10 ng/ml, p