[Hepatocyte growth factor in kidney diseases].

HGF--hepatocyte growth factor--belongs to the growth factors family, derivatives of plasminogen. Authors in this study discuss HGF and its receptor structure, physicochemical properties, release of HGF and its action on cellular level, describe also methods of HGF detection. HGF is a potent mitogen for hepatocytes, plays an important role in liver regeneration after inflammation and partial hepatectomy. Elevated levels of serum HGF were detected in liver diseases with co-existing nephromegaly. HGF has also renotropic properties. A role of HGF in kidney development in physiology and pathology conditions, HGF action in acute renal failure, in chronic renal failure and after kidney transplantation was discussed. According to current literature, HGF importance in glomerulonephritis was described. Elevated concentration of this growth factor correlates with kidney destruction and could be connected with glomerulopathy exacerbation. HGF also plays a role in vascular endothelium defence and regeneration. The importance of HGF in arterial hypertension pathomechanism was underlined.