Novel regulatory roles of small leucine-rich proteoglycans in remodeling of the uterine cervix in pregnancy.

ABSTRACT: The cervix undergoes rapid and dramatic shifts in collagen and elastic fiber structure to achieve its disparate physiological roles of competence during pregnancy and compliance during birth. An understanding of the structure-function relationships of collagen and elastic fibers to maintain extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis requires an understanding of the mechanisms executed by non-structural ECM molecules. Small-leucine rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) play key functions in biology by affecting collagen fibrillogenesis and regulating enzyme and growth factor bioactivities. In the current study, we evaluated collagen and elastic fiber structure-function relationships in mouse cervices using mice with genetic ablation of decorin and/or biglycan genes as representative of Class I SLRPs, and

SUBMITTER: Colon-Caraballo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9446484 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature