ABSTRACT
Hepatocyte growth factor [H.G.F.] which was originally identified as a growth factor for hepatocytes, has been shown to have the potentiality to stimulate the growth of gastric epithelial cells and also, can enhance motility of epithelial cells i.e. [mitogen and motogen effects]. Cell proliferation is increased in gastric mucosa infected by Helicobacter pylori [H.P.]. However, the mechanism of that proliferation is not well understood, it was supposed that mucosal inflammation by Helicobacter pylori pruduces interleukin IB which may induce H.G.F. production yielding mucosal proliferation; also, it was found that H.G.F. stimulates the production of prostaglandin E2 which may play a role in gastric mucosal cell proliferation. Was to study and measure gastric mucosal H.G.F in presence and absence of helicobacter pylori gastritis to fulfill this aim, we studied two groups of patients, one group including 30 patients with H.P-gastritis and another group including 10 patients as a control group complaining of dyspepsia without H.P. infection [negative controls], both groups were age and sex matched, both groups were subjected to thorough clinical assessment, pelviabdominal ultrasonogram, routine lab investigations. Also, upper G.I.T. endoscope with antral and fundal biopsies for histopathological examination to detect HP and to show the degree of gastritis associated and also to do immunohistochemical studies for detection of H.G.F in gastric mucosa. In our study, we found a significant correlation between the degree of severity of gastritis caused by H.P. and the degree of staining of HGF- receptor in antral mucosa, so, the more severe the inflammation, the more H.G.F production in the mucosa. Gastric mucosal H.G.F. increases in H.P. gastritis, and its increase is directly related to the degree of gastritis. The production of H.G.F which is a protective protein to maintain homeostasis and the integrity of gastric mucosa by inducing cell proliferation to replace damaged gastric mucosa by Helicobacter cytotoxic activities