Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is a pluripotent growth factor capable of
acting as a motogen, a morphogen, and a mitogen. Originally, HGF/SF was found as a blood-
borne mitogen for hepatocytes and has since been determined to be very important in liver
repair. Previous studies have established that HGF/SF must be proteolytically cleaved to
elicit its effects. After liver injury by toxins such as carbon tetrachloride or after surgical
resection, partial hepatectomy (PHX), HGF/SF concentrations increase in the blood. The …