Fragmentation of decorin biglycan lumican and keratocan is elevated in degenerate human meniscus knee and hip articular cartilages compared with age-matched macroscopically normal and control tissues

摘要

IntroductionThe small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) modulate tissue organization, cellular proliferation, matrix adhesion, growth factor and cytokine responses, and sterically protect the surface of collagen type I and II fibrils from proteolysis. Catabolism of SLRPs has important consequences for the integrity of articular cartilage and meniscus by interfering with their tissue homeostatic functions.