Emerging role of CCN family proteins in tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis (Review).
The CCN family of proteins comprises the members CCN1, CCN2, CCN3, CCN4, CCN5 and CCN6. They share four evolutionarily conserved functional domains, and usually interact with various cytokines to elicit different biological functions including cell proliferation, adhesion, invasion, migration, embryonic development, angiogenesis, wound healing, fibrosis and inflammation through a variety of signalling pathways. In the past two decades, emerging functions for the CCN proteins (CCNs) have been identified in various types of cancer. Perturbed expression of CCNs has been observed in a variety of malignancies. The aberrant expression of certain CCNs is associated with disease progression and poor prognosis. Insight into the detailed mechanisms involved in CCN-mediated regulation may be useful in understanding their roles and functions in tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis. In this review, we briefly introduced the functions of CCNs, especially in cancer.
Department of General Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, P.R. China.
Jun
J
Li
Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Institute of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK.
Lin
L
Ye
Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Institute of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK.
Sioned
S
Owen
Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Institute of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK.
Hoi Ping
HP
Weeks
Department of General Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, P.R. China.
Zhongtao
Z
Zhang
Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Institute of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK.
Wen G
WG
Jiang
D055511:CCN Intercellular Signaling Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055515:Cysteine-Rich Protein 61 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055514:Nephroblastoma Overexpressed Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D055511:CCN Intercellular Signaling Proteins; C501848:CCN1 protein, human; C526317:CCN2 protein, human; C526319:CCN3 protein, human; C116396:CCN4 protein, human; C413323:CCN5 protein, human; C400081:CCN6 protein, human; D055515:Cysteine-Rich Protein 61; D055514:Nephroblastoma Overexpressed Protein; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor