Principal Investigator:
John Castellot, Ph.D.
Professor and Director of the CMDB Graduate Program
Department of Anatomy and Cellular Biology

Department of Anatomy & Cellular Biology
Tufts University 
School of Medicine
136 Harrison Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02111

Office Phone:  
(617)636-0303
Lab Phone: 
(617)636-
FAX: 
(617)636-6536

EMail Address:
john.castellot@tufts.edu


Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology

Sackler School

Medical School

Fig. 11 CCN5 regulates MMP-2 levels. Other CCN family members increase matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels in cells. MMPs are proteases that play an important role in many cellular processes. In SMC, MMP-2 is known to stimulate motility. As shown in the top panel of this zymogram, MMP-2 levels are low in non-proliferating (G0) SMC, and growth factors like PDGF induce MMP-2 (which shows up as a doublet). When we over-express CCN5 in SMC, MMP-2 levels are decreased. Knocking down endogenous CCN5 with siRNA causes MMP-2 levels to increase. These observations are consistent with the ability of CCN5 to inhibit SMC motility.