Kanaan Reem A, Aldwaik Mohammad, Al-Hanbali Othman A
Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University, Jordan.
Med Sci Monit. 2006 Dec;12(12):RA277-281. Epub 2006 Nov 23.
Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a secreted, extracellular matrix-associated protein that regulates diverse cellular functions in different cell types. CTGF gene belongs to a larger CCN gene family that also includes Cyr61 and NOV. It modulates many cellular functions, including proliferation, migration, adhesion, and extracellular matrix production, and it is involved in many biological and pathological processes. CTGF has special importance in skeletal development. During Meckel's cartilage development, CTGF acts as a down-stream molecule of TGFbeta to stimulate cell-cell interactions and the expression of condensation-associated genes. CTGF promotes endochondral ossification and articular cartilage regeneration. During the healing of experimental bone fracture, CTGF was expressed in periosteal cells and hypertrophic chondrocytes. It promotes the proliferation of chondrocytes and osteoblasts. CTGF is a down-stream mediator for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in osteoblast-induced proliferation. It also regulates signaling through the Wnt pathway, in accord with its ability to bind to the Wnt co-receptor LDL receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6). Constitutive expression of CTGF was shown to inhibit both BMP-9- and Wnt3A-induced osteogenic differentiation.
结缔组织生长因子（CTGF）是一种分泌型的、与细胞外基质相关的蛋白质，它在不同细胞类型中调节多种细胞功能。CTGF基因属于一个更大的CCN基因家族，该家族还包括Cyr61和NOV。它调节许多细胞功能，包括增殖、迁移、黏附以及细胞外基质的产生，并且参与许多生物学和病理学过程。CTGF在骨骼发育中具有特殊重要性。在梅克尔软骨发育过程中，CTGF作为转化生长因子β（TGFβ）的下游分子，刺激细胞间相互作用以及凝聚相关基因的表达。CTGF促进软骨内成骨和关节软骨再生。在实验性骨折愈合过程中，CTGF在骨膜细胞和肥大软骨细胞中表达。它促进软骨细胞和成骨细胞的增殖。CTGF是成骨细胞诱导增殖中前列腺素E2（PGE2）的下游介质。它还通过Wnt信号通路进行调节，这与其结合Wnt共受体低密度脂蛋白受体相关蛋白6（LRP6）的能力一致。CTGF的组成型表达被证明可抑制骨形态发生蛋白9（BMP-9）和Wnt3A诱导的成骨分化。
