Asporin-deficient mice have tougher skin and altered skin glycosaminoglycan content and structure.

The main structural component of connective tissues is fibrillar, cross-linked collagen whose fibrillogenesis can be modulated by Small Leucine-Rich Proteins/Proteoglycans (SLRPs). Not all SLRPs' effects on collagen and extracellular matrix in vivo have been elucidated; one of the less investig...

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Main Authors: Marco Maccarana, René B Svensson, Anki Knutsson, Antonis Giannopoulos, Mea Pelkonen, MaryAnn Weis, David Eyre, Matthew Warman, Sebastian Kalamajski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2017-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0184028&type=printable
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author Marco Maccarana
René B Svensson
Anki Knutsson
Antonis Giannopoulos
Mea Pelkonen
MaryAnn Weis
David Eyre
Matthew Warman
Sebastian Kalamajski
author_facet Marco Maccarana
René B Svensson
Anki Knutsson
Antonis Giannopoulos
Mea Pelkonen
MaryAnn Weis
David Eyre
Matthew Warman
Sebastian Kalamajski
author_sort Marco Maccarana
collection DOAJ
description The main structural component of connective tissues is fibrillar, cross-linked collagen whose fibrillogenesis can be modulated by Small Leucine-Rich Proteins/Proteoglycans (SLRPs). Not all SLRPs' effects on collagen and extracellular matrix in vivo have been elucidated; one of the less investigated SLRPs is asporin. Here we describe the successful generation of an Aspn-/- mouse model and the investigation of the Aspn-/- skin phenotype. Functionally, Aspn-/- mice had an increased skin mechanical toughness, although there were no structural changes present on histology or immunohistochemistry. Electron microscopy analyses showed 7% thinner collagen fibrils in Aspn-/- mice (not statistically significant). Several matrix genes were upregulated, including collagens (Col1a1, Col1a2, Col3a1), matrix metalloproteinases (Mmp2, Mmp3) and lysyl oxidases (Lox, Loxl2), while lysyl hydroxylase (Plod2) was downregulated. Intriguingly no differences were observed in collagen protein content or in collagen cross-linking-related lysine oxidation or hydroxylation. The glycosaminoglycan content and structure in Aspn-/- skin was profoundly altered: chondroitin/dermatan sulfate was more than doubled and had an altered composition, while heparan sulfate was halved and had a decreased sulfation. Also, decorin and biglycan were doubled in Aspn-/- skin. Overall, asporin deficiency changes skin glycosaminoglycan composition, and decorin and biglycan content, which may explain the changes in skin mechanical properties.
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spelling doaj-art-9c655e4a2bf94461b3dec9a8a50186f02025-08-20T03:13:19ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032017-01-01128e018402810.1371/journal.pone.0184028Asporin-deficient mice have tougher skin and altered skin glycosaminoglycan content and structure.Marco MaccaranaRené B SvenssonAnki KnutssonAntonis GiannopoulosMea PelkonenMaryAnn WeisDavid EyreMatthew WarmanSebastian KalamajskiThe main structural component of connective tissues is fibrillar, cross-linked collagen whose fibrillogenesis can be modulated by Small Leucine-Rich Proteins/Proteoglycans (SLRPs). Not all SLRPs' effects on collagen and extracellular matrix in vivo have been elucidated; one of the less investigated SLRPs is asporin. Here we describe the successful generation of an Aspn-/- mouse model and the investigation of the Aspn-/- skin phenotype. Functionally, Aspn-/- mice had an increased skin mechanical toughness, although there were no structural changes present on histology or immunohistochemistry. Electron microscopy analyses showed 7% thinner collagen fibrils in Aspn-/- mice (not statistically significant). Several matrix genes were upregulated, including collagens (Col1a1, Col1a2, Col3a1), matrix metalloproteinases (Mmp2, Mmp3) and lysyl oxidases (Lox, Loxl2), while lysyl hydroxylase (Plod2) was downregulated. Intriguingly no differences were observed in collagen protein content or in collagen cross-linking-related lysine oxidation or hydroxylation. The glycosaminoglycan content and structure in Aspn-/- skin was profoundly altered: chondroitin/dermatan sulfate was more than doubled and had an altered composition, while heparan sulfate was halved and had a decreased sulfation. Also, decorin and biglycan were doubled in Aspn-/- skin. Overall, asporin deficiency changes skin glycosaminoglycan composition, and decorin and biglycan content, which may explain the changes in skin mechanical properties.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0184028&type=printable
spellingShingle Marco Maccarana
René B Svensson
Anki Knutsson
Antonis Giannopoulos
Mea Pelkonen
MaryAnn Weis
David Eyre
Matthew Warman
Sebastian Kalamajski
Asporin-deficient mice have tougher skin and altered skin glycosaminoglycan content and structure.
PLoS ONE
title Asporin-deficient mice have tougher skin and altered skin glycosaminoglycan content and structure.
title_full Asporin-deficient mice have tougher skin and altered skin glycosaminoglycan content and structure.
title_fullStr Asporin-deficient mice have tougher skin and altered skin glycosaminoglycan content and structure.
title_full_unstemmed Asporin-deficient mice have tougher skin and altered skin glycosaminoglycan content and structure.
title_short Asporin-deficient mice have tougher skin and altered skin glycosaminoglycan content and structure.
title_sort asporin deficient mice have tougher skin and altered skin glycosaminoglycan content and structure
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0184028&type=printable
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