Age-related elevation of HGF is driven by the reduction of fibroblast size in a YAP/TAZ/CCN2 axis-dependent manner

•HGF, an anti-fibrotic factor, is elevated in aged human skin and underlying mechanisms of age-related elevation of HGF are unknown.•Reduced fibroblast size, which is a prominent feature of aged skin fibroblasts in vivo, is responsible for elevated HGF.•Cell size-dependent upregulation of HGF is mediated by impeded YAP/TAZ nuclear translocation and their target gene, CCN2.•Elevated HGF expression is accompanied by the reduced expression of YAP/TAZ and CCN2 in the aged human skin in vivo.•Age-related elevation of HGF is driven by the reduction of fibroblats size in a YAP/TAZ/CCN2 axis-dependent manner.