Potential Role of Hepatocyte Growth Factor, a Novel Angiogenic Growth Factor, in Peripheral Arterial Disease : Downregulation of HGF in Response to Hypoxia in Vascular Cells

Although hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a novel angiogenic growth factor, plays an important role in angiogenesis, regulation of local HGF production under hypoxia has not yet been clarified in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and endothelial cells (EC). Thus, we have studied the role of HGF in hypoxia-induced endothelial injury and the regulation of local vascular HGF expression in response to hypoxia.