Adhesion formed between tendon and its sheath after repair often impairs functional recovery. There have been many attempts to reduce adhesion around a repaired tendon, but most results have been unsatisfactory or impractical in clinical application. Moreover, most attempts were focused on extrinsic tendon healing. whereas studies on the intrinsic tendon healing are sacrce in the literature. We have previously reported that fibrotic tendon adhesion after repair was decreased by decorin, a natural inhibitor of TGF-beta. Accordingly, the serial tensile strength was measured after complete tensection and repair of the tendon severance in order to confirm the effect of decorin inhibition of intrinsic healing capability. Forty White Leghorn chickens were subject to complete transection and repair of the third toe flexor digitorum profundus tendon in Zone II. In the experimental group, 0.5ml of diluted decorin(50microgram/ml) was injected around the repaired site, and the same volume of saline solution in the control group. Tendons were harvested at 1, 3, 5 and 7 weeks. The disrupting force of the repair site was analyzed using tensiometry(LLOYD LR 30K, U.K). The tensile strength of repaired tendon was similar in both groups for all postoperative periods. This indicates that intrinsic healing proceeds normally within the decorin group in spite of the blockade of TGF-betaactivity. Decorin, a natural inhibitor of TGF-beta, showed a significant inhibitory effect on reducing post-repair tendon adhesions, without disruption of intrinsic healing in the chicken flexor tendon injury model. Therefore, decorin is expected to be a useful agent for preventnion on tendon adhesion after the repair in clinical usage.
Chickens ; Decorin* ; Postoperative Period ; Sodium Chloride ; Tendon Injuries ; Tendons* ; Tensile Strength* ; Toes ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

PURPOSE: To report the expression of decorin and TGF-beta in partial myotomy of the extraocular muscle in rats. METHODS: Partial myotomy of the superior rectus muscle was performed on the right eye of 10 Sprague-Dawley rats followed by exposure of the left superior rectus muscle and a simple suture of the conjunctiva. The bilateral superior rectus muscle was obtained from all rats at 2 weeks postoperatively. The tissues were observed under light microscopy with hematoxylin-eosin, Masson's trichrome staining and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Histological examinations of the surgical area at 2 weeks after postoperatively showed irregularly concentrated fibrosis on light microscopy with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining of the experimental eyes. Immnohistochemistry showed that expression of decorin was in the same location as TGF-beta in the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of decorin was found in the healing process after partial myotomy of the extraocular muscle in rats. Immunohistochemistry showed that expression of decorin was in the same location as with TGF-beta.
Animals ; Conjunctiva ; Decorin* ; Fibrosis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sutures ; Transforming Growth Factor beta*

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the gene expression of decorin by periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PLFs) in culture, and discuss the effect of bFGF in periodontal regeneration.

METHODSHuman PLFs were cultured and stimulated by exogenous bFGF. Gene expression of decorin was assessed by semi-quantitive RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe mRNA expression of decorin was suppressed by bFGF and the effect was dose-dependent. When the dose of bFGF increased, the inhibitive effect decreased.

CONCLUSIONDecorin has many biological effects. The inhibitive effect may be one of important factors which participate in the healing process of periodontitis, and provide partly theoretical basis of bFGF in periodontal regeneration.

Decorin ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Periodontal Ligament ; RNA, Messenger ; Regeneration

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been suggested that the formation and growth of nasal polyp require the remodeling of extracellular matrix. Proteoglycans (PGs) are the major components of the extracellular matrix that maintain the integrity of the structural tissues The leucine-rich repeat PGs include lumican, decorin and biglycan, all of which have many important biologic activities in various pathologic conditions, including the remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Therefore, these small-PG families may be involved in the formation and growth of nasal polyp. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgical specimens of nasal polyps and the normal nasal mucosa were assessed for mRNA expressions coding for lumican, decorin and biglycan using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction,which was followed by dot blot hybridization. RESULTS: Lumican, decorin and biglycan mRNAs were expressed in all tissue samples examined. Semi-quantitative dot blot hybridization revealed that the levels of the lumican and biglycan messages are lower in the nasal polyp tissues than in the nasal mucosa. The decorin messages in the nasal polyp were expressed at levels similar to those in the nasal mucosa. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that lumican, decorin and biglycan may be important components of the extracellular matrix in the nasal mucosa. Considering the function of these PGs, the normal levels of decorin associated with low levels of biglycan and lumican may play a role in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis.
Biglycan ; Clinical Coding ; Decorin ; Extracellular Matrix ; Humans* ; Nasal Mucosa* ; Nasal Polyps* ; Proteoglycans* ; RNA, Messenger

BACKGROUNDLiver fibrosis normally progresses to cirrhosis and destroys the normal architecture of the liver, resulting in liver dysfunction and irreversible cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-fibrosis effect and the possible underlying mechanisms of decorin.

METHODSThe mice model of liver fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 50% (v/v) of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) diluted in olive oil (1 ml/kg body weight) once every 2 days for 5 weeks. Three weeks after injecting CCl4 intraperitoneally, mice were randomly divided into normal control with vehicles only (olive oil), mouse model given CCl4 only, and CCl4 plus decorin (DCN, 250 µg/kg). Two weeks later, all the mice were sacrificed and their liver tissues were analyzed for the expressions of genes related to liver fibrosis and under hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, and immunohistochemical staining of all groups. Aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and total bilirubin of the serum were determined for evaluation of the liver function.

RESULTSExogenous protein decorin could reduce liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 in mice. The degree of fibrosis in the experimental group was alleviated, and the contents of collagen fibers were lower in the experimental group than those of the control group. In addition, expressions of transforming growth factor β1 and α-smooth muscle actin decreased in the experimental group.

CONCLUSIONSTaking liver fibrosis model of mouse as the experimental target and by injecting exogenous protein decorin into the model, we confirmed that decorin could inhibit the expression of proteins related to fibrosis and reduce the formation of liver fibrosis in mice.

Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; toxicity ; Decorin ; therapeutic use ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Cirrhosis ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Mice ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

It is known that TGF-beta induces scar in fetal wound healing. The fact gives us that inhibition of TGF-beta can reduce scar formation. It has been reported that neutralizing antibody of TGF-beta reduced scar in rat incisional wounds. Meanwhile decorin, which is main proteoglycan of extracellular matrix, has been known as other antagonist against TGF-beta. However there has been no report about effects of decorin on scar formation. This study examined the histologic findings and width of incisional wound of rat, which was treated with decorin, compsring with non treated wound. We found that scar width was narrower in wounds 2 and 8 weeks after incision and the amount of collagen fiber is less in wounds treated with decorin than in control group. The collagen fibers, especially in wound 8 weeks after incision, were thick and regularly arranged and similar to no dermis in wounds treated with decorin. These results suggest that decorin reduces scar formation and facilitates maturation in wound healing. Even though this study cannot confirm its mechanism, the effect of decorin might be due to inhibition of TGF-beta.
Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Cicatrix ; Collagen ; Decorin* ; Dermis ; Extracellular Matrix ; Proteoglycans ; Rats* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta* ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

A 43-year-old man developed decreased vision in the right eye that had persisted for seven years. Under slit lamp examination, corneal clouding was noted with normal endothelium and ocular structure. From the clinical evidence, we suspected that the patient had congenital hereditary stromal dystrophy (CHSD). He and his family underwent a genetic analysis. Penetrating keratoplasty was conducted, and the corneal button was investigated for histopathologic confirmation via both light and electron microscopy. The histopathologic results revealed mildly loosened stromal structures, which exhibited an almost normal arrangement and differed slightly from the previous findings of CHSD cases. With regard to the genetic aspects, the patient and his mother harbored a novel point mutation of the decorin gene. This genetic mutation is also distinct from previously described deletion mutations of the decorin gene. This case involved delayed penetration of mild clinical symptoms with the histological feature of a loosened fiber arrangement in the corneal stroma. We concluded that this condition was a mild form of CHSD. However, from another perspective, this case could be considered as "decorin gene-associated corneal dystrophy," which is distinct from CHSD. Further evaluation will be required for appropriate clinical, histopathologic and genetic approaches for such cases.
Adult ; Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary/diagnosis/*genetics ; Decorin/*genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Pedigree ; *Point Mutation ; Republic of Korea

Background: Inter1eukin-6(IL-6) is known to be produced by osteoblastic cells and to have impartant role in regulation of bone remodelling, Most previous studies indicated that IL-6 bas a major role in stimulating osteoclastic resorption by increasing recruitment and proliferation of preosteoclasts. But its autocrine effect on osteoblastic cells has not been well established yet. Therefore, we studied the effects of IL-6 on messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of proteins that are characteristic of osteoblastic cells in human bone marrow stromal (osteoprogenitor) cells (hRMSC). Methods: The expression of mRNAs for alkaline phosphatase, al(1)-collagen, osteopontin and decorin were studied by northern blot analysis after 3 7 days' treatrnent with IL-6 in the concenttation range of 101,000 U/ml. Results: The mRNA levels for any of the osteoblastic proteins studied did not change significantly by IL-6 treatment up to the concentration of 1,000 U/ml. Conclusion: These results suggest that IL-6 does not have a significant role in differentiatian or activities of human bone rnarrow stromal.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Blotting, Northern ; Bone Marrow ; Decorin ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; Osteopontin ; RNA, Messenger

Decorin is a member of the extracellular matrix small leucine-rich proteoglycans family that exists and functions in stromal and epithelial cells. Accumulating evidence suggests that decorin affects the biology of various types of cancer by directly or indirectly targeting the signaling molecules involved in cell growth, survival, metastasis, and angiogenesis. More recent studies show that decorin plays important roles during tumor development and progression and is a potential cancer therapeutic agent. In this article, we summarize recent studies of decorin in cancer and discuss decorin's therapeutic and prognostic value.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Decorin ; metabolism ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Prognosis

Adult wounds heal with scar-tissue formation, whereas fetal wounds heal without scarring and with a lesser inflammatory and cytokine response. The unique fetal wound repair process is not dependent on the sterile, aqueous intrauterine environment. The differences between fetal and adult wound healing appear to reflect processes intrinsic to fetal tissue, such as the unique fetal fibroblast, a more rapid and ordered deposition and turnover of tissue components, and, particularly, a markedly reduced inflammatory infiltrate and cytokine profile. Among these cytokines, the transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) is a growth factor which plays an important role in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. The fibrosis characteristic of adult wound repair may be associated with TGF-betaexcess. Recent experimental studies have focused on the specific anti-TGF-beta strategies for scarless wound healing. Decorin, a proteoglycan, is known to regulate TGF-beta. This factor antagonizes the action of TGF-betain tissues. However, little is known about the functions of this factor in vivo. The objects of the present study were to analyze the effects of TGF-beta, an important regulatory molecule in adult healing events, and the effects of decorin, known inhibitor against TGF-beta, on the fetal tissue response following wounding. Fetal cellular and extracellular matrix response to injury were evaluated by treating the wound with TGF-beta and decorin in fetal rat at 14 days gestation (term = 21 days). Histologic response and histomorphometric analysis two to eight weeks later were compared between TGF-betaonly treated wound and TGF-betawith decorin treated wound.The histologic finding of the TGF-beta treated wound was characterized by an early acute inflammatory response : by week 6 fibroblasts and collagen were predominant. In contrast, TGF-beta with decorin treated wound had no remarkable histologic evidence of acute inflammation or fibroblast penetration and few collagen was deposited. These observations demonstrate that the fetal response becomes adultlike with fibroblast proliferation and collagen accumulation when TGF-betais added, thus documenting the responsiveness of the fetal system to adult repair signals. Such responsiveness thus suggests a critical difference in the fetal wound environment. Fetal repair may proceed in the absence of trophic factors like TGF-beta, thus accounting for optimal "healing" in the absence of excessive fibrosis. And these observations also confirmed the inhibitory action of decorin against TGF-beta in rat fetus model. We can suggest that the decorin minimize the inflammatory response and subsequent cellular proliferation in wound healing process, thus eventually prevent collagen deposition and scar tissue formation.
Adult ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cicatrix ; Collagen ; Cytokines ; Decorin ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fetus ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Pregnancy ; Proteoglycans ; Rats* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*