Review
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World J Diabetes. Oct 15, 2014; 5(5): 678-688
Published online Oct 15, 2014. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v5.i5.678
Hepatocyte growth factor, a biomarker of macroangiopathy in diabetes mellitus
Hiroyuki Konya, Masayuki Miuchi, Kahori Satani, Satoshi Matsutani, Taku Tsunoda, Yuzo Yano, Tomoyuki Katsuno, Tomoya Hamaguchi, Jun-Ichiro Miyagawa, Mitsuyoshi Namba
Hiroyuki Konya, Satoshi Matsutani, Yuzo Yano, Department of Internal Medicine, Ashiya Municipal Hospital, Ashiya, Hyogo 659-8502, Japan
Masayuki Miuchi, Kahori Satani, Taku Tsunoda, Jun-Ichiro Miyagawa, Mitsuyoshi Namba, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan
Tomoyuki Katsuno, Division of Innovative Diabetes Treatment, Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan
Tomoya Hamaguchi, Division of Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, Itami City Hospital, Itami, Hyogo 664-8540, Japan
Author contributions: Konya H and Namba M involved in collecting the required publications about the review and editing the manuscript; Konya H wrote the manuscript; all authors organized the structure of the review.
Correspondence to: Hiroyuki Konya, MD, PhD, Department of Internal Medicine, Ashiya Municipal Hospital, 39-1, Asahigaoka-cho, Ashiya, Hyogo 659-8502, Japan. h-dyer@mvi.biglobe.ne.jp
Telephone: +81-797-312156 Fax: +81-797-228822
Received: December 27, 2013
Revised: March 1, 2014
Accepted: May 31, 2014
Published online: October 15, 2014
Abstract

Atherosclerotic involvements are an essential causal element of prospect in diabetes mellitus (DM), with carotid atherosclerosis (CA) being a common risk-factor for prospective crisis of coronary artery diseases (CAD) and/or cerebral infarction (CI) in DM subjects. From another point of view, several reports have supplied augmenting proof that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has a physiopathological part in DM involvements. HGF has been a mesenchymal-derived polyphenic factor which modulates development, motion, and morphosis of diverse cells, and has been regarded as a humor intermediator of epithelial-mesenchymal interplays. The serum concentrations of HGF have been elevated in subjects with CAD and CI, especially during the acute phase of both disturbances. In our study with 89 type 2 DM patients, the association between serum concentrations of HGF and risk-factors for macrovascular complications inclusive of CA were examined. The average of serum HGF levels in the subjects was more elevated than the reference interval. The serum HGF concentrations associated positively with both intimal-media thickness (IMT) (r = 0.24, P = 0.0248) and plaque score (r = 0.27, P = 0.0126), indicating a relationship between the elevated HGF concentrations and advancement of CA involvements. Multivariate statistical analysis accentuated that serum concentrations of HGF would be associated independently with IMT (standardized = 0.28, P = 0.0499). The review indicates what is presently known regarding serum HGF might be a new and meaningful biomarker of macroangiopathy in DM subjects.

Keywords: Hepatocyte growth factor, Diabetes mellitus, Carotid atherosclerosis, Macroangiopathy, Biomarker

Core tip: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been a mesenchymal-derived polyphenic factor which modulates development, motion, and morphosis of diverse cells, and has been regarded as a humor intermediator of epithelial-mesenchymal interplays. The serum levels of HGF in diabetes mellitus (DM) subjects might be assayed by balancing of stimulators (hypertension, atheromatous arteriosclerosis, etc.) and suppressors (hyperglycemia, transforming growth factor-, angiotensin II, etc.). The elevated serum level of HGF might have been regarded as an indicator of the DM involvements seriousness. Accordingly, the concentration of serum HGF might be a new and meaningful biomarker of macroangiopathy in DM subjects.