Gene transfection of hepatocyte growth factor attenuates the progression of cardiac remodeling in the hypertrophied heart

Objectives Hepatocyte growth factor plays a significant role in angiogenesis, anti-apoptosis, and anti-transforming growth factor-β1–mediated fibrosis in several organs. In this study, we investigated the effect of transfection of the hepatocyte growth factor gene in attenuation of cardiac remodeling in the hypertrophied heart. Methods Two weeks after banding the ascending aorta of male Sprague-Dawley rats, a hemagglutinating virus of Japan-liposome complex with (H group) or without (C group) human hepatocyte growth factor cDNA was transfected into the left ventricle wall by direct injection. The hepatocyte growth factor, c-Met, and transforming growth factor-β1 mRNA levels in the left ventricle were then analyzed by real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results Two weeks after transfection, the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 mRNA was significantly attenuated in the H group compared with the C group ( P P P Conclusions Our results demonstrated that gene transfection of hepatocyte growth factor attenuated left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and cardiac fibrosis in association with a decrease in transforming growth factor-β1 in the rat heart subjected to pressure overload. Thus, the transfection of the hepatocyte growth factor gene into the hypertrophied heart may be a strategy for the hypertrophied and failing heart even for cardiac surgery.