Connective tissue growth factor: What's in a name?

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a member of the recently describe d CCN gene family which contains CTGF itself, cyr61, nov, elm1, Cop1, and W ISP-3. CTGF is transcriptionally activated by several factors although its stimulation by transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) has attracted con siderable attention. CTGF acts to promote fibroblast proliferation, migrati on, adhesion, and extracellular matrix formation, and its overproduction is proposed to play a major role in pathways that lead to fibrosis, especiall y those that are TGF-beta-dependent. This includes fibrosis of major organs , fibroproliferative diseases, and scarring. CTGF also appears to play a ro le in the extracellular matrix remodeling that occurs in normal physiologic al processes such as embryogenesis, implantation, and wound healing. Howeve r, recent advances have shown that CTGF is involved in diverse autocrine or paracrine actions in several other cell types such as vascular endothelial cells, epithelial cells, neuronal cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and cells of supportive skeletal tissues. Moreover, in some circumstances CTGF has negative effects on cell growth in that it can be antimitotic and apop totic. In light of these discoveries, CTGF has been implicated in a diverse variety of processes that include neovascularization, transdifferentiation , neuronal scarring, atherosclerosis, cartilage differentiation, and endoch ondral ossification. CTGF has thus emerged as a potential important effecto r molecule in both physiological and pathological processes and has provide d a new target for therapeutic intervention in fibrotic diseases. (C) 2000 Academic Press.