The effective treatment for cerebral ischemia has not yet been established. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent pleiotropic cytokine that is involved in cell and tissue regeneration, including in the central nervous system. Studies have demonstrated that an exogenous administration of HGF protects brain tissue from ischemic damage. In response to binding to the receptor c-Met, HGF activates the downstream signaling pathways (including the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt, Ras/MAPK and signal transducer and activator of transcription pathways) which leads to various cellular responses involved in angiogenesis, glial scar formation, anti-apoptosis and neurogenesis. The purpose of this review is to summarize the present understanding of the therapeutic potential of HGF in cerebral ischemia.
Keywords: angiogenesis; antifibrosis; c-Met; cerebral ischemia; hepatocyte growth factor; neurogenesis.