WNT1-inducible-signaling pathway protein 2, or WISP-2 (also named CCN5) is a

matricellular protein A matricellular protein is a dynamically expressed non-structural protein that is present in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Rather than serving as stable structural elements in the ECM, these proteins are rapidly turned over and have regulatory rol ...

that in humans is encoded by the ''WISP2''

gene In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity. The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protei ...

Function

The CCN family of proteins regulates diverse cellular functions, including

cell adhesion Cell adhesion is the process by which cells interact and attach to neighbouring cells through specialised molecules of the cell surface. This process can occur either through direct contact between cell surfaces such as Cell_junction, cell junc ...

migration Migration, migratory, or migrate may refer to: Human migration * Human migration, physical movement by humans from one region to another ** International migration, when peoples cross state boundaries and stay in the host state for some minimum le ...

, proliferation, differentiation.

Structure

WISP-2 is a member of the CCN family (

CCN intercellular signaling protein CCN proteins are a family of extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated proteins involved in Cell signaling, intercellular signaling. Due to their dynamic role within the ECM they are considered matricellular proteins. Background The acronym CCN is deri ...

) of secreted,

extracellular matrix In biology, the extracellular matrix (ECM), also called intercellular matrix (ICM), is a network consisting of extracellular macromolecules and minerals, such as collagen, enzymes, glycoproteins and hydroxyapatite that provide structural and bio ...

(ECM)-associated signaling

s. The CCN acronym is derived from the first three members of the family identified, namely

CYR61 Cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (CYR61) or CCN family member 1 (CCN1), is a matricellular protein that in humans is encoded by the ''CYR61'' gene. CYR61 is a secreted, extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated signaling protein of the CCN family ...

(CCN1),

CTGF CTGF, also known as CCN2 or connective tissue growth factor, is a matricellular protein of the CCN family of extracellular matrix-associated heparin-binding proteins (see also CCN intercellular signaling protein). CTGF has important roles in man ...

(connective tissue growth factor, or CCN2), and NOV. These proteins, together with WISP1/CCN4, WISP2 (CCN5, this gene), and WISP3 (CCN6) comprise the six-member CCN family in vertebrates. CCN proteins characteristically contain an

N-terminal The N-terminus (also known as the amino-terminus, NH2-terminus, N-terminal end or amine-terminus) is the start of a protein or polypeptide, referring to the free amine group (-NH2) located at the end of a polypeptide. Within a peptide, the amin ...

secretory signal peptide followed by four structurally distinct domains with homologies to insulin-like growth factor binding protein (

IGFBP The insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP) serves as a transport protein for insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Function Approximately 98% of IGF-1 is always bound to one of six binding proteins (IGF-BP). IGFBP-3, the most abund ...

), von Willebrand type C repeats ( vWC),

thrombospondin Thrombospondins (TSPs) are a family of secreted glycoproteins with antiangiogenic functions. Due to their dynamic role within the extracellular matrix they are considered matricellular proteins. The first member of the family, thrombospondin 1 ...

type 1 repeat (TSR), and a cysteine knot motif within the

C-terminal The C-terminus (also known as the carboxyl-terminus, carboxy-terminus, C-terminal tail, carboxy tail, C-terminal end, or COOH-terminus) is the end of an amino acid chain (protein or polypeptide), terminated by a free carboxyl group (-COOH). When t ...

(CT) domain. However, WISP-2 is unique among this family of proteins by lacking precisely the CT domain.

Clinical significance

WISP-2 (CCN5) inhibits the proliferation of

vascular smooth muscle Vascular smooth muscle is the type of smooth muscle that makes up most of the walls of blood vessels. Structure Vascular smooth muscle refers to the particular type of smooth muscle found within, and composing the majority of the wall of blood v ...

cells, human uterine myometrial cells, and leiomyoma cells. Ectopic expression of WISP-2 also inhibits the motility and invasiveness of breast carcinoma cells. WISP-2 also inhibits cardiac

hypertrophy Hypertrophy is the increase in the volume of an organ or tissue due to the enlargement of its component cells. It is distinguished from hyperplasia, in which the cells remain approximately the same size but increase in number. Although hypertro ...

and

fibrosis Fibrosis, also known as fibrotic scarring, is the development of fibrous connective tissue in response to an injury. Fibrosis can be a normal connective tissue deposition or excessive tissue deposition caused by a disease. Repeated injuries, ch ...

, an effect that appears linked to the absence of the CT domain.

References

{{gene-20-stub CCN proteins