The protein encoded by this gene is a small secreted cysteine-rich protein and a member of the CCN family of regulatory proteins. CNN family proteins associate with the extracellular matrix and play an important role in cardiovascular and skeletal development, fibrosis and cancer development. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2009].
Hoshijima, Hattori, Aoyama, Nishida, Yamashiro, Takigawa: "Roles of heterotypic CCN2/CTGF-CCN3/NOV and homotypic CCN2-CCN2 interactions in expression of the differentiated phenotype of chondrocytes." in: The FEBS journal, Vol. 279, Issue 19, pp. 3584-97, (2012) (PubMed).
Janune, Kubota, Nishida, Kawaki, Perbal, Iida, Takigawa: "Novel effects of CCN3 that may direct the differentiation of chondrocytes." in: FEBS letters, Vol. 585, Issue 19, pp. 3033-40, (2011) (PubMed).