Specificity
This antibody recognises human CTGF (connective tissue growth factor), a 323 amino acid ~38 kDa polypeptide member of the CCN family of secreted cysteine rich regulatory proteins. CTGF is produced by vascular endothelial and umbilical vein cells, and interacts with several other growth factors, including transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs).CTGF is a heparin-binding pleiotropic growth factor involved in chondrogenesis and potentially skeletogenesis. CTGF promotes the adhesion of epithelial cells and fibroblasts, stimulates integrin expression, and also promotes endothelial cell survival, migration and adhesion, implicating CTGF in angiogenesis. CTGF induces extracellular matrix formation, including the deposition of excessive collagen in fibrotic diseases, and has also been implicated in wound healing.