The Roles of CCN1/CYR61 in Pulmonary Diseases

Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Oct 22;21(21):7810. doi: 10.3390/ijms21217810.

Abstract

CCN1 (cysteine-rich 61, connective tissue growth factor, and nephroblastoma-1), previously named CYR61 (cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61) belongs to the CCN family of matricellular proteins. CCN1 plays critical roles in the regulation of proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and fibrosis. Recent studies have extensively characterized the important physiological and pathological roles of CCN1 in various tissues and organs. In this review, we summarize both basic and clinical aspects of CCN1 in pulmonary diseases, including acute lung injury (ALI), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung fibrosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), lung infection, and lung cancer. We also emphasize the important challenges for future investigations to better understand the CCN1 and its role in physiology and pathology, as well as the questions that need to be addressed for the therapeutic development of CCN1 antagonists in various lung diseases.

Keywords: COPD; bronchopulmonary dysplasia; fibrosis; lung cancer; lung infection; lung injury; pulmonary hypertension.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Lung Injury / etiology
  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / etiology
  • Cysteine-Rich Protein 61 / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / etiology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / etiology
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / etiology

Substances

  • CCN1 protein, human
  • Cysteine-Rich Protein 61