Cardiovascular disease is now the leading cause of death worldwide. Serum amyloid A (SAA), a positive acute phase reactant, along with C-reactive protein is used clinically as a marker of cardiovascular disease risk. However, recent data has shed light on a possible causal role of SAA in the development of atherosclerosis, the most pervasive form of cardiovascular disease. Several inflammatory diseases such as diabetes and obesity are known to confer increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Individuals with these diseases all have modest but persistent elevation of SAA. To determine if SAA caused the development of atherosclerosis, apoe-/-chow fed mice were injected with either an adenoviral vector expressing human SAA1 (ad-hSAA1), a null adenoviral vector (ad-Null) or saline. Human SAA levels rapidly increased, albeit briefly then returned to baseline within 14 days in mice that received ad-hSAA1. After 16 weeks, mice that received ad-hSAA1 had significantly increased atherosclerosis compared to controls on the aortic intimal surface (p<0.0001), aortic sinus (p<0.05) and the brachiocephalic artery (p<0.05). According to the “response to retention” hypothesis; lipoprotein retention by vascular wall proteoglycans is a key initiating event in the development of atherosclerosis. We previously reported that SAA-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells expressed biglycan with increased glycosaminoglycan chain length and increased binding affinity for low density lipoprotein. To further test the role of biglycan on the development of atherosclerosis we generated biglycan transgenic mice. These mice were crossed to the ldlr-/- mouse on a C57BL/6 background and fed a pro-atherogenic western diet for 12 weeks. There was a significant increase in atherosclerotic lesion area on the aortic intimal surface (p<0.05) and the aortic sinus (p<0.006), as well as a significant correlation between vascular biglycan content and aortic sinus atherosclerotic lesion area (p<0.0001). These data demonstrate that transiently increased SAA resulted in increased atherosclerosis compared to control mice, possibly via increased vascular biglycan content. In support of this we found that biglycan transgenic mice had significantly increased atherosclerosis compared to wildtype controls, likely through increased lipid retention in the vascular wall.

No description available.

Osteoarthritis (OA) ist eine chronische Erkrankung der Gelenke des menschlichen Körpers, insbesondere des Kniegelenkes. Sie ist durch entzündliche und degenerative Prozesse gekennzeichnet, die Patienten in ihrer Beweglichkeit stark einschränkt. In der komplexen Pathophysiologie kommt es unter anderem zu zellmorphologischen Veränderungen der knorpelbildenden Zellen, den Chondrozyten, und zu destruktiven Veränderungen der Knorpelmatrix. Bisherige therapeutische Ansätze bestehen in meist in einer rein symptomatischen Therapie durch Schmerzmittel sowie der operativen endoprothetischen Versorgung als Ultima Ratio. Eine kurative Therapie ist bisher nicht möglich. Einen Ansatz für eine kurative Therapie könnte eine Subpopulation der Zellen des Knorpelgewebes bieten. Chondrogene Progenitor Zellen (CPCs) stellen als Vorläuferzellen der Chondrozyten, gesteuert durch das prochondrogene Gen SOX9 und das proosteogene Gen RUNX2, einen möglichen regenerativen Ansatz in der Behandlung dar. Eine Rolle in diesem Prozess könnten die Wachstumsfaktoren TGF- β3 und EGF sowie das Matrixmolekül Biglycan darstellen. In dieser Arbeit konnte gezeigt werden, dass diese Wachstumsfaktoren, deren Rezeptoren und das Matrixmolekül Biglycan im osteoarthrischen Knorpel eine Rolle spielen. Insbesondere konnte in vitro gezeigt werden, dass CPCs unter dem Einfluss dieser Moleküle zu einer vermehrten SOX9 und verminderten RUNX2-Expression angeregt werden. Unter der Hypothese, dass sich CPCs auf diese Art zu Chondrozyten differenzieren lassen und so den Knorpel wiederherstellen, könnten diese Moleküle einen möglichen Baustein einer zukünftigen Therapie der OA darstellen.

Os mecanismos celulares envolvidos na hiperplasia prostática benigna (HPB) não são bem compreendidos e pouco se sabe sobre como os proteoglicanos estão relacionados com esta condição. Neste estudo foi avaliada a expressão de proteoglicanos de superfície celular e do estroma na HPB. As amostras de próstata com HPB foram colhidas de pacientes submetidos à prostatectomia aberta e ressecção transuretral da próstata (RTUP), enquanto as amostras do grupo controle consistiram na zona de transição de próstatas normais de adultos jovens. Foram usados anticorpos primários anti-sindecan-1, anti-biglican e anti-decorin. A imunomarcação foi avaliada determinando-se a área relativa marcada pelo anticorpo, ou usando-se um escore atribuído à intensidade da coloração. Os resultados mostraram que, no grupo controle, a expressão do sindecan-1 foi mínima ou nula. Na HPB, no entanto, a imunomarcação deste proteoglicano foi intensa e localizada principalmente nas células basais do ácino prostático e com menor intensidade na superfície basolateral das células secretoras. Como não houve diferença entre as amostras obtidas através da prostatectomia aberta e da RTUP, esses grupos foram combinados em um único grupo HPB. A área marcada pelo anticorpo anti-sindecan-1 no epitélio das amostras de HPB foi nove vezes maior do que na próstata normal (p<0,001), e não houve correlações significativas entre a marcação do sindecan-1naHPB e o volume da próstata, o PSA ou a idade do paciente. Quanto ao biglican e ao decorin, a marcação foi exclusivamente no estroma, tanto no grupo controle quanto no grupo HPB, e não houve diferença significativa na extensão e intensidade da coloração entre estes dois grupos. Em conclusão, a imunomarcação do sindecan-1 na HPB é intensa e está localizada no epitélio glandular exclusivamente, mas a intensidade não se correlaciona com o tamanho da próstata ou PSA. A expressão do decorin e do biglican, no entanto, não foi alterada na HPB. / The cellular mechanisms involved in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are not well understood, and little is known about how proteoglycans are affected. Here we investigated the protein expression of stromal and cell surface proteoglycans in BPH. BPH samples were colected from open prostatectomy and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), while controls consisted of the transitional zone of normal prostates from young adults. We used primary antibodies against the proteoglycans syndecan-1, biglycan, and decorin. Immunolabeling was evaluated by determining the relative area of staining, or by using a score for staining intensity. The results showed that, in controls, syndecan-1 was mostly negative. In BPH, however, the labeling of this proteoglycan was intense and located mainly in acinar basal cells, but could extended into the secretory cells. As there were no differences in samples from open prostatectomy and TURP, these groups were combined into a BPH group. Syndecan-1 labeling area in the epithelium of BPH samples was nine times greater than that of controls (p<0,001), and there were no significant correlations between syndecan-1 labeling in BPH and prostate volume, PSA, or patients age. Biglycan and decorin labeling were in the stroma exclusively, in control and BPH samples, and there were no significant differences in extent and intensity of the staining between these two groups. In conclusion, syndecan-1 immunolabeling in BPH is prominent and is located in the glandular epithelium exclusively, but intensity does not correlate with prostate size or PSA. Decorin and biglycan labeling, however, were unchanged in BPH.

Os mecanismos celulares envolvidos na hiperplasia prostática benigna (HPB) não são bem compreendidos e pouco se sabe sobre como os proteoglicanos estão relacionados com esta condição. Neste estudo foi avaliada a expressão de proteoglicanos de superfície celular e do estroma na HPB. As amostras de próstata com HPB foram colhidas de pacientes submetidos à prostatectomia aberta e ressecção transuretral da próstata (RTUP), enquanto as amostras do grupo controle consistiram na zona de transição de próstatas normais de adultos jovens. Foram usados anticorpos primários anti-sindecan-1, anti-biglican e anti-decorin. A imunomarcação foi avaliada determinando-se a área relativa marcada pelo anticorpo, ou usando-se um escore atribuído à intensidade da coloração. Os resultados mostraram que, no grupo controle, a expressão do sindecan-1 foi mínima ou nula. Na HPB, no entanto, a imunomarcação deste proteoglicano foi intensa e localizada principalmente nas células basais do ácino prostático e com menor intensidade na superfície basolateral das células secretoras. Como não houve diferença entre as amostras obtidas através da prostatectomia aberta e da RTUP, esses grupos foram combinados em um único grupo HPB. A área marcada pelo anticorpo anti-sindecan-1 no epitélio das amostras de HPB foi nove vezes maior do que na próstata normal (p<0,001), e não houve correlações significativas entre a marcação do sindecan-1naHPB e o volume da próstata, o PSA ou a idade do paciente. Quanto ao biglican e ao decorin, a marcação foi exclusivamente no estroma, tanto no grupo controle quanto no grupo HPB, e não houve diferença significativa na extensão e intensidade da coloração entre estes dois grupos. Em conclusão, a imunomarcação do sindecan-1 na HPB é intensa e está localizada no epitélio glandular exclusivamente, mas a intensidade não se correlaciona com o tamanho da próstata ou PSA. A expressão do decorin e do biglican, no entanto, não foi alterada na HPB. / The cellular mechanisms involved in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are not well understood, and little is known about how proteoglycans are affected. Here we investigated the protein expression of stromal and cell surface proteoglycans in BPH. BPH samples were colected from open prostatectomy and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), while controls consisted of the transitional zone of normal prostates from young adults. We used primary antibodies against the proteoglycans syndecan-1, biglycan, and decorin. Immunolabeling was evaluated by determining the relative area of staining, or by using a score for staining intensity. The results showed that, in controls, syndecan-1 was mostly negative. In BPH, however, the labeling of this proteoglycan was intense and located mainly in acinar basal cells, but could extended into the secretory cells. As there were no differences in samples from open prostatectomy and TURP, these groups were combined into a BPH group. Syndecan-1 labeling area in the epithelium of BPH samples was nine times greater than that of controls (p<0,001), and there were no significant correlations between syndecan-1 labeling in BPH and prostate volume, PSA, or patients age. Biglycan and decorin labeling were in the stroma exclusively, in control and BPH samples, and there were no significant differences in extent and intensity of the staining between these two groups. In conclusion, syndecan-1 immunolabeling in BPH is prominent and is located in the glandular epithelium exclusively, but intensity does not correlate with prostate size or PSA. Decorin and biglycan labeling, however, were unchanged in BPH.

O decorim e o biglicam são membros da família dos pequenos proteoglicanos ricos em leucina e possuem importantes funções no controle da proliferação, migração e invasão do citotrofoblasto extraviloso (TEV). O objetivo deste trabalho foi de caracterizar a expressão diferencial e a imunolocalização de decorim e biglicam em placentas humanas normais a termo (PNT), na placenta acreta (PA), na mola invasora (MI) e no coriocarcinoma (CO). Na PNT, as células deciduais apresentaram positividade para o decorim, enquanto o TEV foi negativo. O decorim foi fracamente expresso na matriz endometrial, mas negativo no fibrinoide do tipo matriz, enquanto foi positivo para biglicam. Na PA e na MI, o TEV mostrou positividade para decorim e biglicam. No CO, somente o citotrofoblasto foi positivo para ambos proteoglicanos. Portanto, o decorim e o biglicam são expressos diferencialmente em placentas normais e patológicas, sugerindo que os padrões de expressão desses proteoglicanos nas patologias estudadas indicam um papel na modulação da migração e da invasão do trofoblasto. / Decorin and biglycan are family members of the small leucine-rich proteoglycans family, and they have many functions as controlling proliferation, migration and invasion of extravillous trophoblast cells (EVT). The aim of this study was to characterize decorin and biglycan differential expression and immunolocalization in human normal term placenta (NTP), in placenta accreta (PA), in invasive mole (IM), and in choriocarcinoma (CH) samples. In PNT, deciduas cells were positive to decorin whereas EVT was negative. Decorin was faintly stained at endometrial matrix, but negative at matrix-type fibrinoid, although it was positive for biglycan. In PA and IM, the EVT was positive for decorin and biglycan. In CH, only cytotrophoblast cells were positive for both proteoglycans. Therefore, decorin and biglycan are differentially expressed in normal placenta and in placenta pathologies, suggesting that the expression patterns of the proteoglycans in studied pathologies indicate a role in modulating trophoblast migration and invasion.

O decorim e o biglicam são membros da família dos pequenos proteoglicanos ricos em leucina e possuem importantes funções no controle da proliferação, migração e invasão do citotrofoblasto extraviloso (TEV). O objetivo deste trabalho foi de caracterizar a expressão diferencial e a imunolocalização de decorim e biglicam em placentas humanas normais a termo (PNT), na placenta acreta (PA), na mola invasora (MI) e no coriocarcinoma (CO). Na PNT, as células deciduais apresentaram positividade para o decorim, enquanto o TEV foi negativo. O decorim foi fracamente expresso na matriz endometrial, mas negativo no fibrinoide do tipo matriz, enquanto foi positivo para biglicam. Na PA e na MI, o TEV mostrou positividade para decorim e biglicam. No CO, somente o citotrofoblasto foi positivo para ambos proteoglicanos. Portanto, o decorim e o biglicam são expressos diferencialmente em placentas normais e patológicas, sugerindo que os padrões de expressão desses proteoglicanos nas patologias estudadas indicam um papel na modulação da migração e da invasão do trofoblasto. / Decorin and biglycan are family members of the small leucine-rich proteoglycans family, and they have many functions as controlling proliferation, migration and invasion of extravillous trophoblast cells (EVT). The aim of this study was to characterize decorin and biglycan differential expression and immunolocalization in human normal term placenta (NTP), in placenta accreta (PA), in invasive mole (IM), and in choriocarcinoma (CH) samples. In PNT, deciduas cells were positive to decorin whereas EVT was negative. Decorin was faintly stained at endometrial matrix, but negative at matrix-type fibrinoid, although it was positive for biglycan. In PA and IM, the EVT was positive for decorin and biglycan. In CH, only cytotrophoblast cells were positive for both proteoglycans. Therefore, decorin and biglycan are differentially expressed in normal placenta and in placenta pathologies, suggesting that the expression patterns of the proteoglycans in studied pathologies indicate a role in modulating trophoblast migration and invasion.

No description available.