CTGF

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CTGF (connective tissue growth factor) is a cysteine-rich, matrix-associated, heparin-binding protein. In vitro, CTGF mirrors some of the effects of TGF beta on skin fibroblasts, such as stimulation of extracellular matrix production, chemotaxis, proliferation and integrin expression. CTGF can promote endothelial cell growth, migration, adhesion and survival and is thus implicated in endothelial cell function and angiogenesis^[1].

CTGF binds to perlecan^[2], a proteoglycan which has been localised in synovium, cartilage and numerous other tissues.

CTGF has been implicated in extracellular matrix remodelling in wound healing, scleroderma and other fibrotic processes, as it is capable of upregulating both matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs). Therefore, CTGF has the potential to activate both the synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix.

Knockout mice which have had the gene for CTGF removed do not develop normally. Impaired chondrocyte proliferation, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix production and turnover leads to abnormal skeletal growth.^[3]

[edit] References

1. ^ Brigstock DR (2002) Regulation of angiogenesis and endothelial cell function by connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and cysteine-rich 61 (CYR61). Angiogenesis 5:153-165.
2. ^ Nishida T et al. (2003) CTGF/Hcs24, hypertrophic chondrocyte-specific gene product, interacts with perlecan in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes. J Cell Physiol 196:265-275.
3. ^ Ivkovic S et al. (2003) Connective tissue growth factor coordinates chondrogenesis and angiogenesis during skeletal deveopment Development 130:2779-2791.