Identification of hepatocyte growth factor activator (Hgfac) gene as a target of HNF1α in mouse β-cells

► Mutations of the HNF1α gene cause a form of monogenic diabetes. ► We established the MIN6 β-cell line that stably expressed HNF1α-specific shRNA. ► Expression of HGF activator mRNA was decreased in the knockdown cell line. ► We identified that HGF activator is a direct HNF1α target gene in β-cells. ► HNF1α might regulate β-cell function by modulating HGF activator expression.