Fig. 7.

How CCN2 exhibits such a multifunctionality? CCN2 not only acts through its own receptors but also modifies the actions of various growth factors by binding to them and their receptors. Moreover, it also binds to ECM, which accumulates growth factors around the cells and modifies the actions of these growth factors. The sum of these actions would become the final outcome of the biological action of CCN2. In other words, the various biological actions of CCN2 would depend on the different microenvironments of various types of cells and the state of their differentiation