Reduced perlecan expression and accumulation in human carotid atherosclerotic lesions

Increased expression of heparanase in symptomatic carotid atherosclerosis

“…While perlecan is prominently expressed in mouse atherosclerosis, we observed a significant down-regulation of perlecan in human carotid lesions [8]. Hence, it is possible that the ability of HS to influence SMC proliferation in the diseased human vessel wall may instead depend on post-synthesis processes such as structural modification by HS degradation, consequently releasing a spectrum of HS-bound mitogens [8,9].…”

Proteoglycan mediated lipoprotein retention: A mechanism of diabetic atherosclerosis

“…An additional explanation is that other proteoglycans, such as biglycan, could accumulate during progression of the lesions and contribute to ongoing lipoprotein retention. In human arteries reduced heparan sulfate content is found in atherosclerotic areas as compared to non-atherosclerotic areas [42,82], and perlecan does not co-localize with apoB in humans. Thus, the relevance of this murine data to human atherosclerosis is not clear.…”

Multifunctionality of extracellular and cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans

“…Also, this mutation promoted smooth muscle cell proliferation and intimal hyperplasia of artery walls indicative of a role for Pln HS chains in the modulation of atherosclerosis [87,88]. Interestingly, reduced perlecan expression was associated with the presence of atherosclerotic lesions in human arteries [89]. In addition, although no significant abnormalities were observed in the glomerular basement membrane of the kidney, susceptibility to protein overload was observed in these mouse mutants suggesting a function for Pln HS chains in glomerular filtration [5].…”