Aoki M, Ogihara T, Morishita R
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Osaka University Medical School.
Nihon Rinsho. 2001 Dec;59(12):2460-9.
Hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) is focused as a powerful endothelial growth factor in the field of cardiovascular diseases. As its physiological role in atherosclerosis, restenosis, angiogenesis etc is very important, HGF-based new treatments for various diseases are expected. Clinical gene therapy for restenosis and ischemic diseases using VEGF gene have already performed in USA, and they could show beneficial effects of such strategies. In Japan, gene therapy using HGF gene for ASO has just begun in spring 2001. In near future, powerful therapeutic effects of HGF could applied to restenosis, graft failure, cardiomyopathy, cerebral vascular diseases, renal failure and so on.
