Ablation of biglycan attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis after left ventricular pressure overload.

Aims: Biglycan, a small leucine-rich proteoglycan, has been shown to play an important role in stabilizing fibrotic scars after experimental myocardial infarction. However, the role of biglycan in the development and regression of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis during cardiac pressure overload and unloading remains elusive. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the effect of biglycan on cardiac remodeling in a mouse model of left ventricular pressure overload and unloading.

Loss of Biglycan Enhances Thrombin Generation in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice: Implications for Inflammation and Atherosclerosis.

Objective: Thrombin signaling promotes atherosclerosis by initiating inflammatory events indirectly through platelet activation and directly via protease-activated receptors. Therefore, endogenous thrombin inhibitors may be relevant modulators of atheroprogression and cardiovascular risk. In addition, endogenous thrombin inhibitors may affect the response to non-vitamin K-dependent oral anticoagulants.

The impact of the receptor of hyaluronan-mediated motility (RHAMM) on human urothelial transitional cell cancer of the bladder.

Unlabelled: Hyaluronan (HA) is a carbohydrate of the extracellular matrix with tumor promoting effects in a variety of cancers. The present study addressed the role of HA matrix for progression and prognosis of human bladder cancer by studying the expression and function of HA-related genes.

Methods: Tissue samples of 120 patients with different stages of transitional cell bladder cancer, who underwent surgical treatment for bladder cancer at the University Hospital of Essen were analysed.

High insulin-like growth factor mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP3) protein expression is associated with poor survival in muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Unlabelled: What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Insulin-like growth factor mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP3) is an oncofetal protein found to be re-expressed in a series of human cancers including bladder cancer. In vitro analyses showed an invasion and proliferation promoting effect for IMP3. Further in vitro studies suggested that IMP3 is able to bind to the mRNAs of CD44 and insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), enhancing their stability and expression.

Deficiency of biglycan causes cardiac fibroblasts to differentiate into a myofibroblast phenotype.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is followed by extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, which is on the one hand required for the healing response and the formation of stable scar tissue. However, on the other hand, ECM remodeling can lead to fibrosis and decreased ventricular compliance. The small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP), biglycan (bgn), has been shown to be critically involved in these processes.

Inhibition of hyaluronan synthesis accelerates murine atherosclerosis: novel insights into the role of hyaluronan synthesis.

Background: Hyaluronan is thought to mediate neointimal hyperplasia but also vasoprotection as an integral component of the endothelial glycocalyx. The present study addressed for the first time the effects of long-term pharmacological inhibition of hyaluronan synthesis on vascular function and atherosclerosis.

Methods And Results: Four-week-old apolipoprotein E-deficient mice on a Western diet received orally an inhibitor of hyaluronan synthesis, 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU; 10 mg/g body wt), resulting in 600 nmol/L 4-MU in plasma.

Small leucine-rich proteoglycans in atherosclerotic lesions: novel targets of chronic statin treatment?

Small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs), such as decorin and biglycan, regulate the assembly and turnover of collagenous matrix. The aim of the study was to analyse the effect of chronic rosuvastatin treatment on decorin, biglycan and the collagen matrix in ApoE-deficient mice. Twenty-week-old male ApoE-deficient mice received normal chow or 20 mg rosuvastatin/kg × day for 32 weeks.

Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulators of biglycan in cardiac fibroblasts.

Biglycan, a small leucine-rich proteoglycan, is essential for scar formation and preservation of hemodynamic function after myocardial infarction, as shown in biglycan-knockout mice. Because of this important role in cardiac pathophysiology, we aimed to identify regulators of biglycan expression and posttranslational modifications in cardiac fibroblasts. Cardiac fibroblasts were isolated from neonatal Wistar-Kyoto rats and used in the first passage.

Long-term treatment with the AT1-receptor antagonist telmisartan inhibits biglycan accumulation in murine atherosclerosis.

Accumulation of biglycan, a small leucine-rich proteoglycan, in the neointima precedes the retention of lipids and accumulation of macrophages during early atherosclerosis. Biglycan is therefore considered a pro-atherogenic proteoglycan that might play a key role in atherogenesis. On the other hand biglycan ensures in part establishment of stable collagen networks.