Functional role of proteoglycans in prostate cancer

One of the main components of the extracellular matrix of human prostate tissue are proteoglycans (PGs) - complex protein-carbohydrate molecules consisting of crust protein and one or more carbohydrate chains of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) attached to it. Proteoglycans are involved in cell-cell interactions with extracellular matrix proteins growth factors and chemokines and regulate the functional activity of cells. Through the interaction of crustal proteins proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans with extracellular matrix molecules and signaling molecules proteoglycans are involved in signal transduction between cells and the surrounding matrix which affects motility adhesion growth and apoptosis and other cellular processes.