Hepatocyte growth factor levels in the cerebrospinal fluid correlate with increased disease activity in MS

The Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) belongs to the plasminogen family. Within the CNS, it is produced by glial cells and neurons, while its receptor c-Met is expressed in glial cell, neurons, DCs, monocytes and T cells. HGF increases regulatory T cell responses and is neuroprotective in the context of several neurodegenerative disease models, including MS, brain ischemia, spinal cord injury, ALS, Parkinson´s disease and Alzheimer´s disease. Additionally, several lines of experiments suggest that HGF has regenerative effects. It promotes axonal outgrowth and regulates the differentiation of various neuronal populations and also induces the proliferation and migration of oligodendroglial progenitor cells.