title: The CCN proteins: important signaling mediators in stem cell differentiation and tumorigenesis.
abstract: The CCN proteins contain six members, namely CCN1 to CCN6, which are small secreted cysteine-rich proteins. The CCN proteins are modular proteins, containing up to four functional domains. Many of the CCN members are induced by growth factors, cytokines, or cellular stress. The CCNs show a wide and highly variable expression pattern in adult and in embryonic tissues. The CCN proteins can integrate and modulate the signals of integrins, BMPs, VEGF, Wnts, and Notch. The involvement of integrins in mediating CCN signaling may provide diverse context-dependent responses in distinct cell types. CCN1 and CCN2 play an important role in development, angiogenesis and cell adhesion, whereas CCN3 is critical to skeletal and cardiac development. CCN4, CCN5 and CCN6 usually inhibit cell growth. Mutations of Ccn6 are associated with the progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia and spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda. In stem cell differentiation, CCN1, CCN2, and CCN3 play a principal role in osteogenesis, chondrogenesis, and angiogenesis. Elevated expression of CCN1 is associated with more aggressive phenotypes of human cancer, while the roles of CCN2 and CCN3 in tumorigenesis are tumor type-dependent. CCN4, CCN5 and CCN6 function as tumor suppressors. Although CCN proteins may play important roles in fine-tuning other major signaling pathways, the precise function and mechanism of action of these proteins remain undefined. Understanding of the biological functions of the CCN proteins would not only provide insight into their roles in numerous cellular processes but also offer opportunities for developing therapeutics by targeting CCN functions.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, and The Affiliated Hospitals, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Wei
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kohls
authors.forename: Bai-Cheng
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wenli
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Bing-Qiang
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jinyong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Xiaoji
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Eric R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Stephanie H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Farbod
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Restegar
authors.forename: Rex C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Haydon
authors.forename: Zhong-Liang
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Hue H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Luu
authors.forename: Tong-Chuan
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055511:CCN Intercellular Signaling Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D048788:Growth and Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D055511:CCN Intercellular Signaling Proteins