Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a cytokine of the family of growth regulators comprising sef10, cyr61, CTGF and nov, has recently been described in association with scleroderma and other scarring conditions.
Collectively, these results suggest that endothelial CCN1 downregulation at least partially due to Fli1 deficiency may contribute to the development of digital ulcers in SSc patients.