A CTGF-YAP Regulatory Pathway Is Essential for Angiogenesis and Barriergenesis in the Retina.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) or cellular communication network 2 (CCN2) is a matricellular protein essential for normal embryonic development and tissue repair. CTGF exhibits cell- and context-dependent activities, but CTGF function in vascular development and barrier function is unknown. We show that endothelial cells (ECs) are one of the major cellular sources of CTGF in the developing and adult retinal vasculature.

CCN1-Yes-Associated Protein Feedback Loop Regulates Physiological and Pathological Angiogenesis.

Cellular communication network factor 1 (CCN1) is a dynamically expressed, matricellular protein required for vascular development and tissue repair. The gene is a presumed target of Yes-associated protein (YAP), a transcriptional coactivator that regulates cell growth and organ size. Herein, we demonstrate that the promoter is indeed a direct genomic target of YAP in endothelial cells (ECs) of new blood vessel sprouts and that deficiency in mice downregulates and alters cytoskeletal and mitogenic gene expression.