Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Proteoglycans in Lung Disease and Tissue Engineering

Ahnstedt, Hilda LU ; Ibáñez-Fonseca, Arturo LU orcid ; Elowsson, Linda LU and Westergren-Thorsson, Gunilla LU orcid (2026) In Biology of Extracellular Matrix 17. p.369-398
Abstract

Proteoglycans with their attached negatively charged glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) play a crucial role in proper tissue morphology and function throughout the body. Their complex meshwork exists either as thin sheet-like basement membranes lining epithelial cells as in airway bronchial and alveolar epithelial tissue or as a meshwork-like interstitial extracellular matrix (ECM) that forms porous three-dimensional networks around cells. Vast variability due to modifications of the protein core and different stoichiometry of the GAG chain substitutions leads to a myriad of functions that can generally be divided into four categories: modulation of tissue mechanical properties, regulation and protection of the ECM, sequestration of proteins,... (More)

Proteoglycans with their attached negatively charged glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) play a crucial role in proper tissue morphology and function throughout the body. Their complex meshwork exists either as thin sheet-like basement membranes lining epithelial cells as in airway bronchial and alveolar epithelial tissue or as a meshwork-like interstitial extracellular matrix (ECM) that forms porous three-dimensional networks around cells. Vast variability due to modifications of the protein core and different stoichiometry of the GAG chain substitutions leads to a myriad of functions that can generally be divided into four categories: modulation of tissue mechanical properties, regulation and protection of the ECM, sequestration of proteins, and regulation of cell signaling. Proteoglycans can be classified into intracellular, cell-surface, pericellular, and extracellular proteoglycans, and their functions are commonly mediated by binding to collagen, cytokines, growth factors, and morphogens. In several chronic lung disorders, the turnover of the ECM including proteoglycans is altered, highlighting the importance of ECM homeostasis for functional lung physiology. Loss of proteoglycans can result in severe tissue dysfunction ranging from poor mechanical properties, especially important in the lung, to uncontrolled inflammation. Emerging functions for proteoglycans in bioengineering applications may have a significant impact in the field as it opens paths for the development of new therapies.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Bioengineering, Extracellular matrix, Glycosaminoglycans, Lung, Proteoglycans
host publication
Biology of Extracellular Matrix
series title
Biology of Extracellular Matrix
volume
17
pages
30 pages
publisher
Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
external identifiers
  • scopus:105038366030
ISSN
0887-3224
2191-1959
DOI
10.1007/978-3-032-22618-1_10
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
444383f4-c4b6-402a-8922-e4181c6bc9b2
date added to LUP
2026-07-09 12:51:47
date last changed
2026-07-23 14:37:32
@inbook{444383f4-c4b6-402a-8922-e4181c6bc9b2,
  abstract     = {{<p>Proteoglycans with their attached negatively charged glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) play a crucial role in proper tissue morphology and function throughout the body. Their complex meshwork exists either as thin sheet-like basement membranes lining epithelial cells as in airway bronchial and alveolar epithelial tissue or as a meshwork-like interstitial extracellular matrix (ECM) that forms porous three-dimensional networks around cells. Vast variability due to modifications of the protein core and different stoichiometry of the GAG chain substitutions leads to a myriad of functions that can generally be divided into four categories: modulation of tissue mechanical properties, regulation and protection of the ECM, sequestration of proteins, and regulation of cell signaling. Proteoglycans can be classified into intracellular, cell-surface, pericellular, and extracellular proteoglycans, and their functions are commonly mediated by binding to collagen, cytokines, growth factors, and morphogens. In several chronic lung disorders, the turnover of the ECM including proteoglycans is altered, highlighting the importance of ECM homeostasis for functional lung physiology. Loss of proteoglycans can result in severe tissue dysfunction ranging from poor mechanical properties, especially important in the lung, to uncontrolled inflammation. Emerging functions for proteoglycans in bioengineering applications may have a significant impact in the field as it opens paths for the development of new therapies.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ahnstedt, Hilda and Ibáñez-Fonseca, Arturo and Elowsson, Linda and Westergren-Thorsson, Gunilla}},
  booktitle    = {{Biology of Extracellular Matrix}},
  issn         = {{0887-3224}},
  keywords     = {{Bioengineering; Extracellular matrix; Glycosaminoglycans; Lung; Proteoglycans}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{369--398}},
  publisher    = {{Springer Science and Business Media B.V.}},
  series       = {{Biology of Extracellular Matrix}},
  title        = {{Proteoglycans in Lung Disease and Tissue Engineering}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-22618-1_10}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/978-3-032-22618-1_10}},
  volume       = {{17}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}