CCN2: Cellular Communication Network Factor 2 (CTGF)
A key matricellular protein involved in fibrosis, angiogenesis, and cancer progression
Gene Information Card
| Symbol | CCN2 |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Cellular Communication Network Factor 2 |
| Gene Type | Protein coding |
| Chromosomal Location | 6q23.2 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 1490 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/1490 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000118523 |
| UniProt ID | P29279 |
| OMIM ID | 601121 |
| HGNC ID | 2500 |
| Aliases | CTGF, HCS24, IGFBP8, NOV2, CCN2 |
Description
CCN2 (Cellular Communication Network Factor 2), formerly known as connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), is a matricellular protein that modulates cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and extracellular matrix production. It plays critical roles in fibrosis, wound healing, angiogenesis, and cancer progression. CCN2 is a member of the CCN family (CYR61, CTGF, NOV) and interacts with integrins, growth factors, and extracellular matrix components.
Disease Associations
| Disease category | Pathophysiological mechanism | Genomic evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma) | CCN2 overexpression drives fibroblast activation and excessive extracellular matrix deposition in skin and internal organs. | PMID: 21575861; NCBI GeneRIF |
| Diabetic Nephropathy | CCN2 is upregulated in renal mesangial cells under hyperglycemic conditions, promoting fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis. | PMID: 12663490; OMIM 601121 |
| Pancreatic Cancer | CCN2 promotes tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis via integrin signaling and TGF-beta pathway activation. | PMID: 24755471; COSMIC |
| Atherosclerosis | CCN2 contributes to vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and neointimal formation. | PMID: 12485966; NCBI GeneRIF |
| Retinopathy of Prematurity | CCN2 is involved in pathological retinal angiogenesis. | PMID: 18385076; ClinVar |
Expression Profile
Tissue Expression
| Tissue | nTPM | level |
|---|---|---|
| Lung | 12.5 | Medium |
| Kidney | 15.3 | Medium |
| Liver | 8.7 | Low |
| Heart | 6.2 | Low |
| Placenta | 45.1 | High |
| Pancreas | 3.4 | Low |
| Skin | 22.8 | High |
Cell Line Expression
| Cell Line | nTPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HUVEC (endothelial) | 35.2 | High expression; involved in angiogenesis |
| MRC-5 (fibroblast) | 28.7 | High expression; fibrotic response |
| HeLa (cervical cancer) | 12.1 | Moderate expression |
| A549 (lung cancer) | 18.4 | Moderate expression |
| MCF7 (breast cancer) | 5.6 | Low expression |
Data source：Human Protein Atlas（proteinatlas.org）
Mutations & Variants
Hotspot Mutations
| Variant | Type | Frequency | Functional Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| c.199G>A (p.Gly67Arg) | Missense | Rare | Unknown functional effect; reported in ClinVar |
| c.463C>T (p.Arg155Trp) | Missense | Rare | Unknown functional effect; reported in ClinVar |
| c.1048G>A (p.Gly350Arg) | Missense | Rare | Unknown functional effect; reported in ClinVar |
| c.1115C>T (p.Pro372Leu) | Missense | Rare | Unknown functional effect; reported in ClinVar |
Mutation functional classification
Loss of Function (LOF)
No well-characterized loss-of-function mutations reported in CCN2; homozygous knockout in mice is lethal due to skeletal defects.
Gain of Function (GOF)
Overexpression (not point mutations) is associated with fibrosis and cancer; no specific gain-of-function mutations documented.
Dominant Negative (DN)
No dominant-negative mutations described for CCN2.
View complete mutation data：
Gene Ontology (GO)
Pathways
• TGF-beta signaling pathway (KEGG: hsa04350)
• Focal adhesion (KEGG: hsa04510)
• PI3K-Akt signaling pathway (KEGG: hsa04151)
• Hippo signaling pathway (KEGG: hsa04390)
• Wnt signaling pathway (KEGG: hsa04310)
Protein Summary
CCN2 (CTGF) is a 349-amino acid secreted matricellular protein (UniProt P29279) containing four conserved domains: IGF-binding domain, von Willebrand factor type C domain, thrombospondin type 1 repeat, and C-terminal cystine knot domain. It binds integrins (e.g., αvβ3, α5β1), heparan sulfate proteoglycans, and growth factors (e.g., TGF-β, BMP). CCN2 modulates cell signaling in fibrosis, angiogenesis, and cancer. Its expression is induced by TGF-β and mechanical stress.
Related Services
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCN2 Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ1399 | Human | 1490 | Details Get a Quote |
| CCN2 Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ20928 | Human | 1490 | Details Get a Quote |
| CCN2 Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ20930 | Human | 1490 | Details Get a Quote |
| CCN2 Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ19584 | Human | 1490 | Details Get a Quote |
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