HGF and dilated cardiomyopathy: In a rat model of myosin-induced experimental autoimmune myocarditis (the heart transits from an acute inflammatory phase to a chronic dilated cardiomyopathy phase in this model), the oral administration of ONO-1301 increased capillary density in the myocardium and circulating endothelial progenitor cells, and improved hemodynamic functions, and these beneficial effects of ONO-1301 were partially abrogated via the neutralization of HGF [153].