HGF and systemic lupus erythematosus: Additionally, HGF expression in SLE BMSCs could also be inhibited by recombinant TNF-α, which was diminished in the presence of TPCA-1 or TNFRI neutralizing mAb (Figure 6(c)), suggesting that TNF-α and IKK-β acted through the inhibition of HGF mRNA production to participate in impaired migration capacity of SLE BMSCs.