title: Inflammation amplification by Versican: the first mediator.
abstract: The effects of inflammation may not always benefit the individual. Its amplifying nature represents a highly regulated biological program, and the inflammatory microenvironment is its essential component. Growing evidence suggests that the ECM (extracellular matrix) is important for the early steps of inflammation. Versican, a ubiquitous component of the ECM, contributes to the formation of the inflammatory response and is highly regulated by cytokines. Certain cytokines exert their initial effects on versican to alter the homeostasis of the inflammatory milieu, and inappropriate production of versican may promote the next inflammatory response. Therefore, versican could be the first step in the amplification of the inflammatory response, and ongoing research of this molecule may help to explain the pathogenesis of inflammation.
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors: Zhenwei
authors: Z
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Miao
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors: Lianghua
authors: L
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D015398:Signal Transduction; D053675:Versicans / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D008024:Ligands; D053675:Versicans