HGF, Human

Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF),also known as hepatopoietin-A and scatter factor, is a pleiotropic mitogen belonging to the peptidase S1 family (plasminogen subfamily). It is produced by mesenchymal cells and acts on epithelial cells, endothelial cells and haemopoietic progenitor cells. HGF binds to the proto-oncogenic c-Met receptor to activate a tyrosine kinase signaling cascade. It regulates cell growth, motility and morphogenesis, thus it plays a pivotal role in angiogenesis, tumorogenesis and tissue regeneration.