NOV (nephroblastoma overexpressed) also known as CCN3 is a
matricellular protein that in humans is encoded by the NOVgene.[5][6]
CCN family
NOV is a member of the CCN family of secreted,
extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated signaling proteins (see also
CCN intercellular signaling protein).[7][8] The CCN acronym is derived from the first three members of the family being identified, namely
CYR61 (cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61, or CCN1),
CTGF (connective tissue growth factor, or CCN2), and NOV. These proteins, together with
WISP1 (CCN4),
WISP2 (CCN5), and
WISP3 (CCN6) comprise the six-member CCN family in vertebrates and have been renamed CCN1-6 in the order of their discovery by international consensus.[9]
Structure
The human NOV protein contains 357 amino acids with an N-terminal secretory signal peptide followed by four structurally distinct domains with homologies to insulin-like growth factor binding protein (
IGFBP), von Willebrand type C repeats (
vWC), thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSR), and a
cysteine knot motif within the C-terminal (CT) domain.[10][11]
NOV can bind
BMP2 and inhibit its functions in promoting
osteogenic differentiation,[19] and stimulate osteoclastogenesis through a process that may involve
calcium flux.[20] Overexpression of Nov in transgenic mice in
osteoblasts antagonizes both BMP and
Wnt-signaling and result in
osteopenia.[21]
In February 2017, it was reported that the NOV protein was involved in
regulatory T cell-mediated
oligodendrocytedifferentiation in the regeneration of
myelin following damage to the myelin sheath. This finding revealed a new function for regulatory T cells that is distinct from their role in
immunomodulation.[22] NOV (CCN3) has recently been implicated in mood disorders, notably in the postpartum period; these effects may be mediated by its effects on myelination [23]
Role in embryo development
In contrast to the lethality of
Cyr61 (CCN1) and
Ctgf (CCN2) genetic knockout in mice, Nov-null mice are viable and largely normal, exhibiting only modest and transient sexually dimorphic skeletal abnormalities.[24] However, Nov-null mice show enhanced blood vessel
neointimal thickening when challenged with vascular injury, indicating that NOV inhibits neoinitimal
hyperplasia.[25]
Role in cancer
Although NOV inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells,[26] it appears to promote metastasis.[27][28] Nov overexpression results in reduced tumor size in
glioma cells
xenografts,[29] but enhances metastatic potential in xenotransplanted melanoma cells.[30] NOV expression is associated with a higher risk of metastasis and worse prognosis in patients with cancers such as
Ewing's sarcoma,
melanoma, and
breast cancer.[31] In
chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), NOV is downregulated as a consequence of the
kinase activity of
BCR-
ABL, a
chimeric protein generated through the chromosomal translocation between chromosome 9 and 22.[32] Forced expression of NOV inhibits proliferation and restores growth control in CML cells, suggesting that NOV may be an alternate target for novel therapeutics against CML.[7][33]
^"Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^"Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^Martinerie C, Viegas-Pequignot E, Guenard I, Dutrillaux B, Nguyen VC, Bernheim A, Perbal B (Dec 1992). "Physical mapping of human loci homologous to the chicken nov proto-oncogene". Oncogene. 7 (12): 2529–34.
PMID1334251.
^Ellis PD, Metcalfe JC, Hyvönen M, Kemp PR (2003). "Adhesion of endothelial cells to NOV is mediated by the integrins alphavbeta3 and alpha5beta1". Journal of Vascular Research. 40 (3): 234–43.
doi:
10.1159/000071887.
PMID12902636.
S2CID84511515.