Fibromodulin belongs to the family of small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs), an active component of extracellular matrix. It directly binds collagens to promote fibrillogenesis and also binds transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) to antagonize its actions. Our previous studies of rat anterior pituitary gland revealed that fibromodulin is expressed in folliculostellate cells and pericytes. A...

BACKGROUND We have previously demonstrated that four members of the family of small leucine-rich-proteoglycans (SLRPs) of the extracellular matrix (ECM), named decorin, biglycan, lumican and fibromodulin, are deeply remodeled in mouse uterine tissues along the estrous cycle and early pregnancy. It is known that the combined action of estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) orchestrates the estrous ...

The development of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats was studied over a period of 21 d after an intratracheal instillation of bleomycin. The expression of three small proteoglycans (biglycan, decorin, and fibromodulin), collagen III and TGF-beta 1 was studied by RNA-transfer blot analysis. The proteoglycans were also studied by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blots...

Osteoarthritis is characterized by a loss of extracellular matrix that leads to cartilage degradation and joint space narrowing. Specific proteases, including the aggrecanases ADAMTS-4 and matrix metalloproteinase 3, are important in initiating and promoting cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis. This study investigated protease-specific and disease-specific cleavage patterns of particular ex...

BACKGROUND Proteoglycans (PG) are known to be involved in the organization and assembly of the extracellular matrix (ECM) prior to mineral deposition. Osteoadherin (OSAD), a keratan sulphate PG is a member of the small leucine-rich (SLRP) family of PGs and unlike other SLRPs, OSAD expression is restricted to mineralized tissues. It is proposed to have a high affinity for hydroxyapatite and has ...

A major and early feature of cartilage degeneration is proteoglycan breakdown. Matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-13 plays an important role in cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis (OA). This MMP, in addition to initiating collagen fibre cleavage, acts on several proteoglycans. One of the proteoglycan families, termed small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs), was found to be involved in collagen f...

OBJECTIVES Diabetic nephropathy is an important long-term complication of diabetes mellitus which appears to be partially mediated by an increase in secretion of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Fibromodulin, the small leucine-rich proteoglycan, has been proposed to be the potent TGFβ1 modulator. In this study, the therapeutic effects of recombinant adenoviral vectors expressing fibromodul...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES It has become evident that fibromodulin and other members of the proteoglycan family are not only involved in collagen fibrillogenesis and cell adhesion but they also contribute to modulation of cytokine activity, suppression of tumor growth, and prevention of apoptosis. Fibromodulin has been characterized as one of the tumor associated antigens (TAA) in B cell chronic...

Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), including miR-21, and alteration of their target genes stability have been associated with cellular transformation and tumorigenesis. We investigated the expression, regulation and function of miR-21 in leiomyomas which develop from myometrial cellular transformation. The results indicated that miR-21 is over-expressed in leiomyomas with specific eleva...

INTRODUCTION: The bone regeneration process is characterized by hematoma formation, inflammation, angiogenesis, chondrogenesis, osteogenesis and bone remodeling. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are crucial during the early phase of bone healing, possibly acting via migration, proliferation and differentiation into functional cells of the chondrogenic or osteogenic lineage. In addition to biologic...