title: Connective tissue growth factor and its correlation to other growth factors in experimental granulation tissue.
abstract: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is upregulated in a variety of fibrotic disorders, probably secondary to the activation and production of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). We have studied the expression of CTGF in a rat wound-healing model using Northern blot, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. The expression of CTGF mRNA in Northern blot and immunohistochemistry were correlated to the expression of TGF-beta1 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Northern hybridization showed the maximum expression of CTGF mRNA on day 14, whereas TGF-beta1 expression was maximal on days 7 and 14 and the time-related changes were smaller than for CTGF. PDGF A and PDGF B mRNA expressions were at maximum on day 14 and on day 21, respectively. In situ hybridization showed that fibroblast-like cells expressed CTGF most intensively, expression declining rapidly after day 14. CTGF mRNA and protein were found in blood vessel cells during the first week. In immunohistochemistry, all growth factors were expressed by fibroblast-like cells, macrophage-like cells, and blood vessels but CTGF-positive cells were fewer and were more restricted on days 5 and 7. These results demonstrate that CTGF expression together with TGF-beta and PDGF are up-regulated in wound healing, and CTGF expression in blood vessels suggests that CTGF is involved in angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Fourth Department of Surgery, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. kaija.inkinen@hus.fi
authors.forename: Kaija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inkinen
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lindroos
authors.forename: Juhani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahonen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C526316:CCN2 protein, rat; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C508962:Tgfb1 protein, rat; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor