Hepatocyte growth factor as a driver of synovial inflammation and therapeutic resistance in rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Previous studies have demonstrated that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is implicated in treatment resistance in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to elucidate the mechanistic role of HGF in synovial inflammation and assess the therapeutic potential of targeting the HGF-c-Met axis.

Methods

Plasma HGF levels were measured in 66 RA patients. The expression of HGF and its receptor, c-Met, in synovial tissue was assessed using publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing data and immunostaining. The effects of HGF on synovial fibroblasts were examined through bulk RNA sequencing, immunostaining, and quantitative PCR. The therapeutic efficacy of the c-Met inhibitor savolitinib was evaluated in a mouse model of arthritis.

Results

Plasma HGF levels were

SUBMITTER: Dang QM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12901490 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature