HGF and pulmonary fibrosis: HGF have shown anti-apoptotic effects on epithelial and endothelial cells [39] and that HGF induces apoptosis and prevents accumulation of myofibroblasts in experimental lung fibrosis, while in vitro studies have shown that HGF is involved in the regulation of TGF-β and inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transitions [40].