Figure 9.

CCN proteins could improve tissue engineering strategies. Human bone marrow-derived MSC express and secrete CCN family proteins. Mainly CCN 1, 2, 5 and 6 are expressed in undifferentiated cells. Particularly CYR61/CCN1 and CTGF/CCN2 are important regulators in the developing skeleton and represent angiogenic modulators. Targeted tissue repair in the adult could, in part, rely on this dual role of CCN proteins allowing for improvement of tissue engineering strategies.