HGF activates the HGF/c-Met signaling pathway, promoting renal tubular cell survival and proliferation.428 This suggests a negative regulatory effect of β-catenin on HGF, and the crosstalk between these two signaling pathways facilitates communication between renal tubular cells and mesenchymal fibroblasts, ultimately exacerbating AKI following renal I/R injury. The gene discussed is HGF; the disease is acute kidney injury.