The following is a summary of the “Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) of the ocular lens,” published in the March 2023 issue of Progress in retinal and eye research by Wishart, et al.
Most cells contain heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), found on the cell surface, in the pericellular milieu, and/or in the extracellular matrix. Ocular HSPGs can coordinate the actions of critical signaling molecules in the eye’s environment to aid in normal growth and maintenance. However, their knowledge of the individual functions of HSPG family members and the diversity of the sulfated HS chains with which they are associated is still in its infancy.
The crystalline lens is a well-characterized and relatively straightforward ocular tissue that serves as a perfect setting for showcasing and modeling the expression and individual roles of HSPGs. Loss or functional disruption of specific HSPG core proteins leads to distinct phenotypes in the lens and other ocular tissues at distinct times and places throughout development and depending on cell type. For example, recent studies have shown that HS sulfation enzymes are presented in a cell- and tissue-specific fashion and that altering these patterns disrupts specific HS-protein interactions.
Interestingly, it has also been reported that sulfated HS chains are necessary for lens and eye development, with pathogenesis and ocular-related phenotypes resulting from dysregulation of HS chain structure and function. Significant and specific changes in the expression and function of HSPGs in the lens can drive pathology or promote tissue repair. Because of their role as master regulators of a wide variety of signals, HSPGs have the potential to be used as diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets for a wide range of diseases, including those affecting the eye and the rest of the body.
Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1350946222000787
