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Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF/SF) in Alzheimer's disease
Fenton H, Finch PW, Rubin JS, Rosenberg JM, Taylor WG, Kuo-Leblanc V, Rodriguez-Wolf M, Baird A et al.. Brain research, 1998-01-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF/SF), is a heparin-binding polypeptide which stimulates DNA synthesis in a variety of cell types and also promotes cell migration and morphogenesis. HGF/SF mRNA has been found in a variety of tissues, including brain. In a previous study, we showed that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), another heparin-binding protein is increased in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and appears to be associated with the heparan-sulfate proteoglycans bound to B/A4 amyloid (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 171 (1990) 690-696). In the present study, we examined the distribution of HGF/SF in 4% paraformaldehyde fixed samples of prefrontal cortex from control and Alzheimer patients, in order to assess the possibility that HGF/SF may be found in association with the pathologic changes which occur in Alzheimer's disease. A specific polyclonal antibody directed against HGF/SF revealed widespread HGF/SF-like immunoreactivity in both the cerebral cortex and white matter. Confocal microscopy confirmed that HGF/SF could be found in both GFAP positive astrocytes and LN3 positive microglia cells, as well as rare scattered cortical neurons. In the AD cases studied, the immunoreactivity was increased within both the astrocytes and microglial cells surrounding individual senile plaques. No staining was seen within the neurofibrillary tangles. Western blot analysis confirmed the normal molecular form of HGF/SF in Alzheimer's disease. Quantitative ELISA assay demonstrated a significant increase in HGF/SF in AD relative to age matched controls. These studies confirm the presence of HGF/SF immunoreactivity within neurons, astrocytes and microglial cells. They also indicate that HGF/SF may be increased within senile plaques as a function of the gliosis and microglial proliferation which occurs in association with these structures in Alzheimer's disease.
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APA 7th
Fenton, H., Finch, P. W., Rubin, J. S., Rosenberg, J. M., Taylor, W. G., Kuo-Leblanc, V., et al. (1998). Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF/SF) in Alzheimer's disease. Brain research. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-8993(97)00958-x
Vancouver
Fenton H, Finch PW, Rubin JS, Rosenberg JM, Taylor WG, Kuo-Leblanc V, et al. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF/SF) in Alzheimer's disease. Brain research. 1998. doi:10.1016/s0006-8993(97)00958-x. PMID: 9473690.
BibTeX
@article{fenton1998-9473690,
author = {Fenton, H. and Finch, P. W. and Rubin, J. S. and Rosenberg, J. M. and Taylor, W. G. and Kuo-Leblanc, V. and Rodriguez-Wolf, M. and Baird, A. and others},
title = {{Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF/SF) in Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {Brain research},
year = {1998},
doi = {10.1016/s0006-8993(97)00958-x},
pmid = {9473690},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-8993(97)00958-x}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- In a previous study, we showed that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), another heparin-binding protein is increased in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and appears to be associated with the heparan-sulfate proteoglycans bound to B/A4 amyloid (Biochem.
- A specific polyclonal antibody directed against HGF/SF revealed widespread HGF/SF-like immunoreactivity in both the cerebral cortex and white matter.
- Quantitative ELISA assay demonstrated a significant increase in HGF/SF in AD relative to age matched controls.
- They also indicate that HGF/SF may be increased within senile plaques as a function of the gliosis and microglial proliferation which occurs in association with these structures in Alzheimer's disease.
Why it matters
Hepatocyte growth factor immunoreactivity was found in astrocytes and microglia and was increased around senile plaques in Alzheimer disease, with ELISA showing a significant increase compared with age-matched controls. This is a tissue study of a growth factor's distribution and does not report a treatment or prevention effect.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Brain research) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Brain Research: journal h-index 399 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1998 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 73 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.4 citations a year over 30 year(s) since 1998 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Edward G. Stopa: h-index 60 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | National Cancer Institute: institution h-index 1,612 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 7 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 9473690) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
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