Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a paracrine cell growth, motility, and morphogenetic factor that is secreted by mesenchymal stromal cells and serves as a multifunctional cytokine for the majority of cells of epithelial origin.HGF exists in a single-chain form as a 728-amino-acid-residue prepeptide with a 29-amino-acid signaling sequence and a 25-amino-acid precursor sequence.HGF binds the proto-oncogene c-Met receptor then activates a tyrosine kinase signaling cascade, which in turn regulates cell growth, motility and morphogenesis. It plays a central role in angiogenesis, tumorigenesis and tissue regeneration. Human HGF plasmid DNA treatment of cardiomyocytes is currently being tested for potential use as a treatment for coronary artery disease and cardiac injury following myocardial infarction.HGF may also be used as a prognostic indication for chikungunya virus-induced arthralgia. High levels of HGF are associated with with rapid recovery.