Connective tissue growth factor: a novel player in tissue reorganization after brain injury?

Recent studies have suggested a role of connective tissue growth factor (CT GF) in repair processes of the skin as well as in various types of fibrotic disease. However, a function of this molecule in central nervous system (C NS) repair has not been demonstrated yet. In this study we analysed the tem poral and spatial expression pattern of CTGF after unilateral kainic acid l esions of the hippocampal CA3 region in mice. We found a strong induction o f CTGF mRNA and protein expression in neurons and glial cells of the lesion ed hippocampus. Interestingly, increased expression of this mitogen was acc ompanied by elevated levels of the extracellular matrix molecule fibronecti n, which is a known target of CTGF action. Therefore, our data indicate a n ovel function of CTGF in postlesional restructuring of the hippocampus, whe re it possibly participates in glial scar formation.