Faktor rasta hepatocita reguliše ćelijski rast, ćelijsku mobilnost i morfogenezu putem aktiviranja signalne kaskade tirozinskih kinaza nakon vezivanja za proto-onkogeni c-Met receptor. Faktor rasta hepatocita izlučen iz mezenhimalnih stem ćelija dejstvuje kao multi-funkcionalni citokin. Njegova sposobnost da stimuliše mitogenezu i ćelijsku motilnost daje mu centralnu ulogu u angiogenezi, tumorogenezi, i regeneraciji tkiva. On se izlučuje kao neaktivni polipeptid, koga presecaju serinske proteaze u 69-kDa alfa-lanac i 34-kDa beta-lanac. Disulfidna veza između alfa i beta lanaca proizvodi aktivni, heterodimerni molekul. Ovaj protein pripada plazminogen potfamiliji S1 peptidaza, ali nema primetnu proteaznu aktivnost. Alternativno splajsovanje ovog gene proizvodi višestruke transkriptne varijante koje kodiraju razne izoforme.[2]
^Gallagher, J.T.; Lyon, M. (2000). „Molecular structure of Heparan Sulfate and interactions with growth factors and morphogens”. Ур.: Iozzo, M. V. Proteoglycans: structure, biology and molecular interactions. Marcel Dekker Inc. New York, New York. стр. 27–59.
^Comoglio, P M (1993). „Structure, biosynthesis and biochemical properties of the HGF receptor in normal and malignant cells”. EXS. SWITZERLAND. 65: 131—65. ISSN1023-294X. PMID8380735.
Ware LB, Matthay MA (2002). „Keratinocyte and hepatocyte growth factors in the lung: roles in lung development, inflammation, and repair.”. Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell Mol. Physiol. 282 (5): L924—40. PMID11943656. doi:10.1152/ajplung.00439.2001.
Funakoshi H, Nakamura T (2003). „Hepatocyte growth factor: from diagnosis to clinical applications.”. Clin. Chim. Acta. 327 (1-2): 1—23. PMID12482615. doi:10.1016/S0009-8981(02)00302-9.
Skibinski G (2004). „The role of hepatocyte growth factor/c-met interactions in the immune system.”. Arch. Immunol. Ther. Exp. (Warsz.). 51 (5): 277—82. PMID14626426.
Hurle RA; Davies G; Parr C; et al. (2006). „Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor and prostate cancer: a review.”. Histol. Histopathol. 20 (4): 1339—49. PMID16136515.
Kemp LE, Mulloy B, Gherardi E (2006). „Signalling by HGF/SF and Met: the role of heparan sulphate co-receptors.”. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 34 (Pt 3): 414—7. PMID16709175. doi:10.1042/BST0340414.
Gallagher, J.T.; Lyon, M. (2000). „Molecular structure of Heparan Sulfate and interactions with growth factors and morphogens”. Ур.: Iozzo, M. V. Proteoglycans: structure, biology and molecular interactions. Marcel Dekker Inc. New York, New York. стр. 27–59.