Effects of the deleted form of hepatocyte growth factor on serum hyaluronate levels in rats with liver cirrhosis.

Effects of the deleted form of hepatocyte growth factor (dHGF) on serum hyaluronate levels, an index for liver cirrhosis, were studied in rats. The levels of serum hyaluronate increased in rats with dimethylnitrosamine- or carbontetrachloride-induced cirrhotic liver with prolongation of prothrombin time, which indicates disorder of liver function. Daily intravenous injection of dHGF reduced the elevated serum hyaluronate levels with improvement of the prolonged prothrombin time. These results suggest that the amelioration of hepatic function disorder by dHGF leads to a reduction of the increased serum hyaluronate levels.