Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in age-related vascular pathologies.
Zoltan I UngvariMarta Noa Valcarcel-AresStefano TarantiniAndriy YabluchanskiyGábor A FülöpTamas KissAnna CsiszarPublished in: GeroScience (2017)
Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF, also known as CCN2) is a matricellular protein expressed in the vascular wall, which regulates diverse cellular functions including cell adhesion, matrix production, structural remodeling, angiogenesis, and cell proliferation and differentiation. CTGF is principally regulated at the level of transcription and is induced by mechanical stresses and a number of cytokines and growth factors, including TGFβ. In this mini-review, the role of age-related dysregulation of CTGF signaling and its role in a range of macro- and microvascular pathologies, including pathogenesis of aorta aneurysms, atherogenesis, and diabetic retinopathy, are discussed. A potential role of CTGF and TGFβ in regulation and non-cell autonomous propagation of cellular senescence is also discussed.
Keyphrases
- growth factor
- diabetic retinopathy
- cell adhesion
- cell proliferation
- transforming growth factor
- endothelial cells
- transcription factor
- optical coherence tomography
- single cell
- cell cycle
- cell therapy
- vascular endothelial growth factor
- pulmonary artery
- amino acid
- bone marrow
- small molecule
- pulmonary hypertension
- protein protein
- wound healing