Abstract

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to have multiple effects on the wound healing process. Several in vitro and ex vivo models using HGF have been shown to promote wound healing. The expression of HGF and its receptor cMet are different in chronic and acute wounds. HGF treatments in chronic wounds have not lived up to the expectations of the in vitro and ex vivo models. This review looks at the different expression of the HGF receptor and HGF agonists in chronic wounds compared to acute wounds. This aberrant expression may have a value in identifying early the wounds at risk of becoming chronic. A greater understanding of HGF and HGF agonists expression will have a direct implication for a protein engineering approach to the management of chronic wounds.

Keywords: HGF, HGF agonists, c-Met, wound healing, Matriptase, Keratinocyte, proteolytic