Description
CTGF (connective tissue growth factor) is a heparin-binding pleiotropic growth factor and member of the CCN family of secreted cysteine rich regulatory proteins, which interacts with other growth factors including transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). CTGF promotes the adhesion of epithelial cells and fibroblasts, stimulates integrin expression, and promotes endothelial cell survival, migration and adhesion, implicating CTGF in angiogenesis. CTGF is involved in chondrogenesis and potentially skeletogenesis, induces extracellular matrix formation and has also been implicated in wound healing