DIFFERENCES IN DECORIN AND BIGLYCAN EXPRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH GASTRIC-ULCER HEALING

Background: The small interstitial proteoglycans decorin and biglycan have been shown to interact with various extracellular matrix molecule s and with transforming growth factor-p. These interactions are propos ed to be important for tissue repair, as the former interactions may a ffect the diameter and spacing of collagen fibrils, and the latter int eraction the proliferation and differentiation of cells embedded in th e matrix. The aim of this study is to localize these proteoglycans in the stomach and to investigate their suitability as potential markers of extracellular matrix activity in gastric lesions. Methods: Immunohi stochemical techniques and in situ hybridization were used to study th e phenotypic expression of these two proteoglycans in routinely proces sed specimens of human stomach tissue from 8 patients with gastric ulc er and 10 healthy control persons. Results: In normal gastric tissue, immunostaining for both proteoglycans was found in the interstitium, w ith a more pronounced staining in the pylorus region than in the corpu s area. In addition, biglycan showed a strong staining of parietal cel ls. In specimens of healing gastric ulcers a larger deposition of deco rin throughout scar tissue could be shown, and a higher expression of decorin was also found by in situ hybridization. Biglycan was only fou nd at the edges of the lesions. Conclusion: This study shows for the f irst time the presence of decorin and biglycan in human gastric mucosa . We also showed that these proteoglycans may be involved in the gastr ic ulcer healing processes.