CCN5

CCN5 encodes WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 2 (WISP2), a secreted matricellular protein of the CCN family (aliases: WISP2). It regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration by interacting with extracellular matrix components and cell surface receptors, inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via Wnt/β-catenin and TGF-β pathways to preserve epithelial cell polarity.
Dysregulated CCN5 is linked to breast cancer (reduced expression correlates with metastasis), obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Preclinical studies explore WISP2 peptide mimetics to suppress tumor invasion and small molecules targeting its regulatory pathways for metabolic disorders; no approved drugs exist yet, but its EMT-modulating role makes it a promising therapeutic target.