title: Extracellular matrix alterations in brains lacking four of its components.
abstract: The organization of the brain extracellular matrix appears to be based on aggregates of hyaluronan and proteoglycans, connected by oligomeric glycoproteins. Mild phenotypical consequences were reported from several mouse strains lacking components of this matrix such as neurocan, brevican, tenascin-R, and tenascin-C. To further challenge the flexibility of the extracellular matrix network of the brain, mice lacking all four brain extracellular matrix molecules were generated, which were found to be viable and fertile. Analysis of the brains of 1-month-old quadruple KO mice revealed increased protein levels of fibulin-1 and fibulin-2. Histochemical analysis showed an unusual parenchymal deposition of these fibulins. The quadruple KO mice also displayed obvious changes in the pattern of deposition of hyaluronan. Further, an almost quadruple knockout like extracellular environment was noticed in the brains of triple knockout mice lacking both tenascins and brevican, since these brains had strongly reduced levels of neurocan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pathology, University Hospital, Lunds University, Lund, Sweden. uwe.rauch@pat.lu.se
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.forename: Xiao-Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Gunnel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D058581:Brevican; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D058580:Neurocan; D019063:Tenascin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: C546938:BCAN protein, human; C553057:Bcan protein, mouse; D058581:Brevican; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D058580:Neurocan; D019063:Tenascin; C060820:fibulin; C084612:fibulin 2; C074638:tenascin R; C076817:NCAN protein, human; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid