Regulation of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) by hepatocyte growth factor in human tubular epithelial cells

摘要

Background. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a pleiotropic protein with renoprotective functions, which have been attributed at least in part to its ability to counteract the profibrotic effects of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). A major downstream mediator of TGF-β is connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). However, the molecular mechanisms of CTGF regulation by HGF have not yet been investigated.