Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF)

CTGF (connective tissue growth factor) is a cysteine-rich, matrix-associated, heparin-binding protein. In vitro, CTGF mirrors some of the effects of TGF beta on skin fibroblasts, such as stimulation of extracellular matrix production, chemotaxis, proliferation and integrin expression. CTGF can promote endothelial cell growth, migration, adhesion and survival and is thus implicated in endothelial cell function and angiogenesis.

CTGF binds to perlecan, a proteoglycan which has been localised in synovium, cartilage and numerous other tissues.CTGF has been implicated in extracellular matrix remodelling in wound healing, scleroderma and other fibrotic processes, as it is capable of upregulating both matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors.