"Basement membrane proteoglycans: modulators Par Excellence of cancer g" by Renato V. Iozzo, Jason J. Zoeller et al.
 

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2009

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed. It is the authors' final version prior to publication in Molecules and Cells Volume 27, Issue 5, May 2009, Pages 503-513. The published version is available at DOI: 10.1007/s10059-009-0069-0. Copyright © Springer.

Abstract

Proteoglycans located in basement membranes, the nanostructures underling epithelial and endothelial layers, are unique in several respects. They are usually large, elongated molecules with a collage of domains that share structural and functional homology with numerous extracellular matrix proteins, growth factors and surface receptors. They mainly carry heparan sulfate side chains and these contribute not only to storing and preserving the biological activity of various heparan sulfate-binding cytokines and growth factors, but also in presenting them in a more "active configuration" to their cognate receptors. Abnormal expression or deregulated function of these proteoglycans affect cancer and angiogenesis, and are critical for the evolution of the tumor microenvironment. This review will focus on the functional roles of the major heparan sulfate proteoglycans from basement membrane zones: perlecan, agrin and collagen XVIII, and on their roles in modulating cancer growth and angiogenesis.

PubMed ID

19466598

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