Irish Centre for Genetic Lung Disease, Department of Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Beaumont Hospital, D09 YD60 Dublin, Ireland.
Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jun 8;23(12):6400. doi: 10.3390/ijms23126400.
In the lung, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are dispersed in the extracellular matrix (ECM) occupying the interstitial space between the capillary endothelium and the alveolar epithelium, in the sub-epithelial tissue and in airway secretions. In addition to playing key structural roles, GAGs contribute to a number of physiologic processes ranging from cell differentiation, cell adhesion and wound healing. Cytokine and chemokine-GAG interactions are also involved in presentation of inflammatory molecules to respective receptors leading to immune cell migration and airway infiltration. More recently, pathophysiological roles of GAGs have been described. This review aims to discuss the biological roles and molecular interactions of GAGs, and their impact in the pathology of chronic airway diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Moreover, the role of GAGs in respiratory disease has been heightened by the current COVID-19 pandemic. This review underlines the essential need for continued research aimed at exploring the contribution of GAGs in the development of inflammation, to provide a better understanding of their biological impact, as well as leads in the development of new therapeutic agents.
在肺部，糖胺聚糖 (GAGs) 分散在细胞外基质 (ECM) 中，占据毛细血管内皮细胞和肺泡上皮细胞之间的间质空间、位于上皮下组织和气道分泌物中。除了发挥关键的结构作用外，GAGs 还参与了许多生理过程，包括细胞分化、细胞黏附和伤口愈合。细胞因子和趋化因子-GAG 的相互作用也涉及到将炎症分子呈递给相应的受体，从而导致免疫细胞的迁移和气道浸润。最近，GAGs 的病理生理学作用也得到了描述。本综述旨在讨论 GAGs 的生物学作用和分子相互作用，以及它们在慢性气道疾病（如囊性纤维化和慢性阻塞性肺疾病）中的病理作用。此外，在当前的 COVID-19 大流行中，GAGs 在呼吸道疾病中的作用得到了提升。本综述强调了继续研究 GAGs 在炎症发展中的作用的必要性，以便更好地了解其生物学影响，并为开发新的治疗药物提供线索。
