The Roles of CCN1/CYR61 in Pulmonary Diseases
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International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review The Roles of CCN1/CYR61 in Pulmonary Diseases Yin Zhu 1, Sultan Almuntashiri 1, Yohan Han 1, Xiaoyun Wang 2, Payaningal R. Somanath 1,3 and Duo Zhang 1,* 1 Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; [email protected] (Y.Z.); [email protected] (S.A.); [email protected] (Y.H.); [email protected] (P.R.S.) 2 Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; [email protected] 3 Department of Medicine, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-706-721-6491; Fax: +1-706-721-3994 Received: 21 September 2020; Accepted: 21 October 2020; Published: 22 October 2020 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: lung injury; COPD; bronchopulmonary dysplasia; fibrosis; pulmonary hypertension; lung infection; lung cancer 1. Introduction The discovery of the CCN proteins started back in the 1990s, and many research groups have presented their work in regards to different CCN proteins [1]. The first found protein was named as the CCN1 or the CYR61, since the protein is recognized as a cysteine-rich protein. Then, CCN2/CTGF, CCN3/NOV, CCN4/WISP-1, CCN5/WISP-2, and CCN6/WISP-3 were introduced by researchers [1]. The CCN protein family consists of six secreted proteins with multifunction designated CCN1 to CCN6. These proteins are found to be conserved among different vertebrates, indicating their conserved roles during evolution. As shown in Figure1, most of the CCN proteins contain a similar structure consisting of four functional domains: (a) insulin-like growth factor binding protein-like module (IGFBP); (b) von Willebrand factor type C repeat module (VWC); (c) thrombospondin type I repeat module (TSP-1); and (d) cysteine-knot-containing module (CT) [2]. One of the exceptions in the CCN protein family with respect to the structure is CCN5, which is lacking the cysteine-knot-containing module (CT), while other members share the same four modules [3]. In the four different modules, receptors such as integrin αVβ3, αVβ5, and α2Bβ3 will bind to the VWC module-binding site; integrin α6β1 will binding in the TSR module. In the CT module, many molecules like heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG), integrin α6β1, αVβ3, α5β1, α6β1, and αMβ2 bind to the module [4,5]. These modules with the binding molecules provide multiple functions to the CCN proteins; like most of the matricellular proteins, CCN proteins can affect cellular behaviors based on different combinations of binding molecules. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 7810; doi:10.3390/ijms21217810 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 7810 2 of 16 Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 15 Forhave example, several integrinsbiologicalα vactivities,β3 and heparan including sulfate cell proteoglycansadhesion, migration, have several growth, biological apoptosis, activities, and includingsenescence cell [4,6–9]. adhesion, When migration, different growth, integrins apoptosis, bind to andthe senescencefour modules, [4,6 –CCN9]. When proteins different can integrinsfunction binddifferently to the in four various modules, cell types. CCN proteins can function differently in various cell types. Figure 1. The structure of CCN protein and examples of their binding growth factors/integrins. The structure (from left to right) consists of insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP), Figure 1. The structure of CCN protein and examples of their binding growth factors/integrins. The von Willebrand factor type C repeat (vWC), thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSP), and cysteine knot structure (from left to right) consists of insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP), von (CT). Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), vascular endothelial Willebrand factor type C repeat (vWC), thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSP), and cysteine knot (CT). growth factor (VEGF), and the integrins (αVβ5, α6β1, and αVβ3) are shown binding with each section. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), vascular endothelial Manygrowthin factor vivo (VEGF)studies,, and including the integrins animal (αVβ and5, α6 humanβ1, and α trails,Vβ3) are revealed shown thatbinding the with CCN each proteins section. might have the ability to enroll in the mediation process in human diseases. For example, the abnormal expressionMany in of vivo the CCNstudies, proteins including has animal been found and human in the trails, diabetic revealed nephropathy that the disease.CCN proteins The results might have shownthe ability that to the enroll upregulated in the mediation CCN2 is observedprocess in in human the mesangial diseases. cells, For as example, well as thethe decreasing abnormal expression of of the CCN1 CCN in proteins the podocytes has been infound the diabeticin the diabetic retina nephropathy [10–12]. In disease. atherosclerosis The results diseases, have theshown increased that the expressions upregulated of theCCN2 CCN1 is observed and CCN2 in werethe mesangial also found cells, where as well the inflammatory as the decreasing cells accumulated,expression of CCN1 practically in the around podocytes the plaques in the diabetic [13,14]. Moreover,retina [10–12]. the increasedIn atherosclerosis CCN1 level diseases, has been the seenincreased in rheumatoid expressions arthritis of the disease. CCN1 The and researchers CCN2 were who reportedalso found these where findings the suggested inflammatory a potential cells connectionaccumulated, between practically the role around of CCN1 the proteinplaques and [13,14 hyperplasia]. Moreover, in the the joint increased [15,16]. CCN1 In the cancer level has category, been CCNseen in proteins rheumatoid have beenarthritis extensively disease. investigated, The researchers especially who thereported dysregulation these findings of CCN suggested proteins ina thepotential development connection of several between types the ofro cancers.le of CCN1 Based protein on the and current hyperplasia findings, in it the has joint been [15,16]. observed In thatthe highlycancer inducedcategory, CCN1, CCN CCN2,proteins CCN3, have andbeen CCN5 extensiv wereely found investigated, in breast andespecial ovarianly the cancer dysregulation [17,18] along of withCCN theproteins downregulation in the development of CCN6 of [19 several], which types is correlated of cancers. with Based poor on prognosis the current situations. findings, In it lung has cancer,been observed there are that many highly reports induced indicating CCN1, CCN2, that the CCN3, CCN1 and and CCN5 CCN2 were are found negatively in breast correlated and ovarian with thecancer prognosis [17,18] ofalong lung with cancer, the wheredownregulation the expression of CC ofN6 CCN1 [19], andwhich CCN2 is correlated level is lower with poor compared prognosis with normalsituations. matched In lung lung cancer, tissues there [20 are,21 many]. In contrast,reports indicating there is athat significant the CCN1 induction and CCN2 of CCN4are negatively protein incorrelated the lung with carcinoma the prognosis samples of [lung20]. cancer, In colon wher cancer,e the the expression increased of CCN1, CCN1 and CCN2, CCN2 and level CCN4 is lower were consideredcompared with as an normal indicator matched for the lung tumor tissues stages [20,21]. [22,23 ].In Based contrast, on this there growing is a significant evidence, induction researchers of suggestedCCN4 protein CCN in protein the lung members carcinoma might samples serve as[20]. diagnostic In colon markers cancer, andthe increased therapeutic CCN1, targets CCN2, in human and diseases.CCN4 were As considered the investigations as an indicator summarized for the above,tumor thestages CCN [22,23]. protein Based family on this has growing shown promising evidence, potentialresearchers for suggested clinical usage. CCN In protein this review, members we focus might on the serve CCN1 as proteindiagnostic and markers its known and roles therapeutic in human lungtargets diseases. in human diseases. As the investigations summarized above, the CCN protein family has shown promising potential for clinical usage. In this review, we focus on the CCN1 protein and its 2.known CCN1 roles in human lung diseases. CCN1 protein was first identified as a matricellular protein and was cloned from mouse 3T3 2. CCN1 fibroblasts in the early 1990s [1]. Accumulated data suggested CCN1 is a multifunctional protein, whichCCN1 is essential protein for was physiological first identified processes