Background information
Wnt-induced secreted protein (WISP)-1, WISP-2 and WISP-3 are members of the CCN family of growth factors, which include connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and Cyr61. WISP-1, WISP-2 and WISP-3 share significant sequence similarity, including four conserved cysteine-rich domains, and they are believed to function as dimers in their active forms. WISP-1 expression is observed in various tissues including adult heart, kidney and spleen, while WISP-2 expression predominates in skeletal muscle, colon and ovary. Both WISP-1 and WISP-2 are upregulated in cells transformed with the proto-oncogene Wnt-1, and they are also more highly expressed in human colon tumors, suggesting that these proteins may participate in tumor development. WISP-3 is involved in normal post-natal skeletal growth, and it is also implicated in the development of the autosomal recessive skeletal disorder progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia, which affects cartilage homeostasis by disrupting the growth of chondrocyte and normal cell columnar organization.
