HGF and heart failure: Cytokine screening from the patient serum samples confirmed the presence of many pro-inflammatory cytokines (Figure 3D), including interleukin (IL)-1-associated cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, MIP1b, and CXCL1), immune cell activators (IL-3 and IL-16), growth factors (MCSF, HGF, and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]), and biomarkers for heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction, such as IP-10 (CXCL10), and MIG (CXCL9).40