HGF and brain ischemia: Recent studies revealed that HGF acts as a neurotrophic factor for a variety of neuron types, enhances angiogenesis, reduces inflammation, improves microcirculation, and exerts a neuroprotective effect during a variety of neuronal disease models such as cerebral ischemia 42, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 43, and spinal cord injury 44, 45, 46.