News Release

Common protein found to be novel pro-inflammatory factor

Peer-Reviewed Publication

JCI Journals

Biglycan, a component of the extracellular matrix, is a protein found in many tissues but its biological function was unknown. In a study appearing online on July 14 in advance of print publication of the August 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Liliana Schaefer and colleagues from University of Muenster show that biglycan is an integral part of the innate immune system and a crucial proinflammatory factor.

The authors show that biglycan is released during inflammation and goes on to act as an endogenous ligand of Toll-like receptor 4 in macrophages, increasing the macrophage responses and leading to rapid activation of signaling events. The researchers also show that mice lacking biglycan have a considerable survival benefit in experimental sepsis.

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Title: The matrix component biglycan is proinflammatory and signals through Toll-like receptor-4 and -2 in macrophages

AUTHOR CONTACT:
Liliana Schaefer
University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
Phone: 49-251-834-7525; Fax: 49-251-86-9550; E-mail: schaefl@uni-muenster.de

View the PDF of this article at: https://www.the-jci.org/article.php?id=23755


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