title: Adiponectin as an inducer of decorin synthesis in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adiponectin, which is an adipose-specific plasma protein, exhibits antiatherogenic activities. The purpose of the present study is to demonstrate that adiponectin regulates the synthesis of proteoglycans-macromolecules comprising a core protein and glycosaminoglycan side chains involved in atherosclerosis progression-in vascular smooth muscle cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, proteoglycans obtained from cultured, adiponectin-treated human coronary artery smooth muscle cells were characterized using biochemical techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that adiponectin induces the synthesis of decorin-a small dermatan sulfate proteoglycan-in vascular smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, the length of dermatan sulfate chains of the decorin molecule appeared to remain unchanged, but the epimerization of glucuronic acid in the chains decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the significance of the regulation of decorin synthesis in atherosclerosis progression by adiponectin remains to be determined, the present study demonstrates for the first time that adiponectin regulates proteoglycan synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Ho-3, Kanagawa-machi, Kanazawa 920-1181, Japan.
authors.forename: Chika
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urano
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaji
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002807:Chondroitin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D058575:Decorin; D003871:Dermatan Sulfate / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; C546878:DCN protein, human; D058575:Decorin; D004187:Disaccharides; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; D003871:Dermatan Sulfate; D002807:Chondroitin