512. Electroporation-Mediated Gene Transfer of Human Hepatocyte Growth Factor Reduces Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats

Background: Pulmonary fibrosis may result in respiratory failure and a poor prognosis in patients with various types of interstitial lung disorders. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent mitogen for alveolar epithelial cells with antiapoptotic and fibrinolytic functions, resulting in improved alveolar repair in vitro. We hypothesized that HGF may improve pulmonary fibrosis in vitro by longterm expression of HGF using electroporation-mediated, non-viral gene transfer in the bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis model.