To investigate the effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on prol iferation of cultured human eccrine sweat gland epithel ial cells (hESGc) and the involvement of phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Methods hESGc were cultured in keratinocyte serum free medium (KSFM) and the first generation of hESGc was harvested. The expression of C-met was detected by immunocytochemistry. MTT assay was used to detect the effect of HGF on the prol iferation of hESGc. The cells were divided into blank group, control group and experimental group. The culture density was 2 × 103 cells/hole in control group and experimental group. Two hundred μL KSFM with HGF in different levels was added to every hole. hESGcwere cultured in KSFM with HGF at different levels (2, 20, 40 and 80 ng/mL) in experimental group, in KSFM without HGF incontrol group, and in KSFM without HGF and no hESGc in blank group. The cell prol iferation was observed in xperimental group 2 and 4 days later. Western blot was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated ERK1/2 at 40 ng/mL HGF after 0, 5, 30, 90 and 120 minutes. Results The results were positive for anti-C-met staining in the cytoplasm. HGF (40 ng/mL and 80 ng/mL) significantly improved the prol iferation of hESGc (P lt; 0.05). When cultured in the KSFM with 40 ng/mL HGF, the cell prol iferation rate and the absorbance were 74.2%, 0.239 3 ± 0.070 9 at 2 days and 74.8%, 0.287 8 ± 0.074 3 at 4 days; showing significant differences when compared with control group (P lt; 0.05). When cultured in KSFM with 80 ng/mL HGF, the cell prol iferation rate and the absorbance were 54.5%, 0.212 3 ± 0.059 2 at 2 days and 40.3%, 0.231 0 ± 0.056 7 at 4 days; showing significant differences when compared with control group (P lt; 0.05). The expression of p-ERK1/2 reached to the maximum after stimulation of 40 ng/mL HGF for 5 minutes, and relative integral absorbance (RIA) was 0.593 2 ± 0.192 2, increased 8.1 times compared with instant stimulation (P lt; 0.01). Conclusion HGF could induce the prol iferation of hESGc and activate the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 protein.