Biglycan and decorin are small chondroitin-dermatan sulfate proteoglycans which form part
of the extracellular matrix. In addition to their structural roles, they may have other important
effects on cell behavior by binding via their core proteins to the potentially fibrogenic
cytokine transforming growth factor-Bl, and indeed their expression is altered in fibrotic
tissues from lung, kidney, and liver. Previous studies on the role of these proteoglycans have
been difficult due to the problems of purifying them from tissues in sufficient quantities, We …