title: Connective tissue growth factor. Friend or foe?
abstract: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a novel cysteine-rich, secreted peptide, which is implicated in human atherosclerosis and fibrotic disorders such as systemic scleroderma. CTGF is a member of the peptide family that includes serum-induced immediate early gene products, a v-src-induced peptide, and a putative proto-oncogene. The CTGF gene family is a modular protein and is conserved throughout evolution. CTGF mRNA has been found in the human, mouse, chicken, frog, and fly. The functions of the CTGF gene family include embryogenesis, wound healing, and regulation of extracellular matrix production. Human CTGF is undetectable in normal blood vessels but overexpressed in atherosclerotic lesions, suggesting an important role in atherogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, University of Zürich. oemar@ubaclu.unibas.ch
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Oemar
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Lüscher
mesh_terms: D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008934:Mitogens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: C526317:CCN2 protein, human; C526318:CCN2 protein, mouse; D006133:Growth Substances; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D008934:Mitogens; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor