Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). A method of the invention can be performed, for example, by transforming a host cell with a polynucleotide encoding a CTGF polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or an active fragment thereof; and growing the host cells under conditions suitable for expressing the polynucleotide in the host cell. In an embodiment, the method further involves isolating the CTGF polypeptide or the active fragment. The invention also relates to a method for producing a vector containing a polynucleotide encoding a CTGF polypeptide or an active fragment thereof by inserting a polynucleotide encoding a CTGF polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a variant thereof into the vector. The vector can be an expression vector, for example, a plasmid expression vector or a viral expression vector. In an embodiment, the polynucleotide has a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a variant thereof.

Abstract: Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) is a polypeptide growth factor for connective tissue cells. CTGF is related immunologically and biologically to PDGF, but is the product of a distinct gene. CTGF, nucleic acids encoding CTGF, means for producing CTGF, anti-CTGF antibodies, diagnostic and therapeutic methods for using CTGF, and methods for inhibition or stimulation of CTGF activity are disclosed.

Abstract: A novel chemotactic and mitogenic protein, Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF), a polynucleotide that encodes CTGF and antibodies that bind to CTGF are provided. Diagnostic and therapeutic methods using CTGF are also described.