Aggrecan is a large proteoglycan that forms giant hydrated aggregates with hyaluronan in the extracellular matrix (ECM). The extraordinary resistance of these aggregates to compression explains their abundance in articular cartilage of joints where they ensure adequate load-bearing. In the brain, they provide mechanical buffering and contribute to formation of perineuronal nets, which regulate synaptic plasticity. Aggrecan is also present in cardiac jelly, developing heart valves, and blood vessels during cardiovascular development. Whereas aggrecan is essential for skeletal development, its function in the developing cardiovascular system remains to be fully elucidated. An excess of aggrecan was demonstrated in cardiovascular tissues in aortic aneurysms, atherosclerosis, vascular re-stenosis after injury, and varicose veins. It is a product of vascular smooth muscle and is likely to be an important component of pericellular matrix, where its levels are regulated by proteases. Aggrecan can contribute to specific biophysical and regulatory properties of cardiovascular ECM via the diverse interactions of its domains, and its accumulation is likely to have a significant role in developmental and disease pathways. Here, the established biological functions of aggrecan, its cardiovascular associations, and potential roles in cardiovascular development and disease are discussed.

聚集蛋白聚糖是一种大蛋白聚糖，它与细胞外基质 (ECM) 中的透明质酸形成巨大的水合聚集体。这些聚集体对压缩的非凡抵抗力解释了它们在关节的关节软骨中的丰富性，在那里它们确保足够的承重。在大脑中，它们提供机械缓冲并有助于形成调节突触可塑性的神经周围网。聚集蛋白聚糖也存在于心脏果冻、心脏瓣膜和心血管发育过程中的血管中。尽管聚集蛋白聚糖对骨骼发育至关重要，但其在发育中的心血管系统中的功能仍有待充分阐明。在主动脉瘤、动脉粥样硬化、损伤后血管再狭窄和静脉曲张的心血管组织中证明了过量的蛋白聚糖。它是血管平滑肌的产物，可能是细胞周围基质的重要组成部分，其水平受蛋白酶调节。Aggrecan 可以通过其结构域的多种相互作用对心血管 ECM 的特定生物物理和调节特性做出贡献，并且其积累可能在发育和疾病途径中发挥重要作用。在这里，讨论了蛋白聚糖的既定生物学功能、其心血管关联以及在心血管发育和疾病中的潜在作用。它的积累很可能在发育和疾病途径中发挥重要作用。在这里，讨论了蛋白聚糖的既定生物学功能、其心血管关联以及在心血管发育和疾病中的潜在作用。它的积累很可能在发育和疾病途径中发挥重要作用。在这里，讨论了蛋白聚糖的既定生物学功能、其心血管关联以及在心血管发育和疾病中的潜在作用。