Publications

Abstract OBJECTIVE Clinical observation suggests that vascular activation and autoimmunity precede remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in systemic sclerosis (SSc). We challenge this paradigm by hypothesising that ECM biomarkers are already disturbed in patients with very early SSc (veSSc) when fibrosis is not yet clinically detectable. METHODS 42 patients with veSSc, defined as the […]

Abstract Angina and no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) have an unfavorable prognosis, possibly due to diffuse myocardial fibrosis (DMF). In DMF the proteoglycans biglycan and versican are actively remodeled by matrix metalloproteinase. We investigated biglycan and versican in females with angina and possible DMF assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Seventy-one females with angina […]

Abstract Extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and remodelling in skin and lungs of systemic sclerosis (SSc) subjects lead to release of metabolites/biomarkers into circulation. We investigated if biomarkers of ECM degradation (biglycan and elastin) and macrophage activation (citrullinated vimentin) could identify diffuse SSc (dSSc) subjects from controls and the biomarkers discriminative power. DSSc subjects ( = 40) fulfilling […]

Abstract BACKGROUND/AIM We investigated nine novel biomarkers of extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling in a rat model of liver fibrosis. METHODS Liver fibrosis was induced in 52 male Wistar rats by inhalation of carbon tetrachloride and the level of hepatic fibrosis was assessed by Sirius red staining compared with controls. The novel serum biochemical markers assessed […]

Abstract Biglycan is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan which is localized in the extracellular matrix of bone and other specialized connective tissues. Both biglycan mRNA and protein are up-regulated by transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) and biglycan appears to influence TGF-beta(1) activity. In this study, we have investigated the mechanism by which TGF-beta(1), TGF-beta(2) and TGF-beta(3) stimulate […]

Abstract UNLABELLED Biglycan is a matrix proteoglycan with a possible role in bone turnover. In a 4-week study with sham-operated or OVX biglycan-deficient or wildtype mice, we show that biglycan-deficient mice are resistant to OVX-induced trabecular bone loss and that there is a gender difference in the response to biglycan deficiency. INTRODUCTION Biglycan (bgn) is […]