title: CCN1/CYR61: the very model of a modern matricellular protein.
abstract: CCN1 (CYR61) is a dynamically expressed, multifunctional matricellular protein that plays essential roles in cardiovascular development during embryogenesis, and regulates inflammation, wound healing and fibrogenesis in the adult. Aberrant CCN1 expression is associated with myriad pathologies, including various cancers and diseases associated with chronic inflammation. CCN1 promotes diverse and sometimes opposing cellular responses, which can be ascribed, as least in part, to disparate activities mediated through its direct binding to distinct integrins in different cell types and contexts. Accordingly, CCN1 promotes cell proliferation, survival and angiogenesis by binding to integrin α(v)β(3), and induces apoptosis and senescence through integrin α(6)β(1) and heparan sulfate proteoglycans. The ability of CCN1 to trigger the accumulation of a robust and sustained level of reactive oxygen species underlies some of its unique activities as a matrix cell-adhesion molecule. Emerging studies suggest that CCN1 might be useful as a biomarker or therapeutic target in certain diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, 900 S. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60607, USA. LFLau@uic.edu
authors.forename: Lester F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D055515:Cysteine-Rich Protein 61 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D055515:Cysteine-Rich Protein 61; D016023:Integrins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D004247:DNA