Journal des biomarqueurs moléculaires et du diagnostic

Increased Serum Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) Levels in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) or Progressive Sarcoidosis

Abstract

Dariusz Ziora, Mariusz Adamek, Zenon Czuba, Dariusz Jastrzębski, Karolina Zeleznik, Slawomir Kasperczyk, Jerzy Kozielski and Wojciech Kro

Background: Endogenous Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) is required for self-repair of injured liver, kidneys and lungs. It also exerts a regenerative effect on epithelium. HGF can inhibit both the initiation and progression of lung fibrosis in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). However available literature data on the role of HGF in sarcoidosis are scarce and conflicting. The aim of our study was to estimate and compare the serum concentrations of HGF both in patients with IPF and sarcoidosis and in healthy controls.

Material and methods: In 43 patients with sarcoidosis, 17 patients with IPF and 20 healthy controls serum HGF concentrations were measured using multiplex bead based sandwich immunoassay.

Results: In patients with IPF mean concentrations of HGF (1286.2 ± 238.3 pg/ml) were significantly higher than in controls (819.8 ± 61.0 pg/ml, p<0.05), but not significantly higher than in sarcoidosis patients (990.0 ± 52.2 pg/ ml). In all patients with sarcoidosis the mean levels of HGF did not differ significantly from levels obtained in control group. However, the mean levels of HGF in 18 patients with progressive sarcoidosis (1260.7 ± 83.7 pg/ml) were significantly higher (p<0.001) than in 25 patients with non-active, stable sarcoidosis (802.7 ± 34.8 pg/ml) and controls (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The role of serum HGF as a potential biomarker in sarcoidosis needs further explorations to answer the question if increased HGF serum levels can predict deterioration of the disease or reflect lung epithelial injury by granulomatous inflammation.