Year: 2013
Type: review
Abstract: How various macromolecules are exchanged between cells and how they gain entry into recipient cells are fundamental questions in cell biology with important implications e.g. non-viral drug delivery, infectious disease, metabolic disorders, and cancer. The role of heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) as a cell-surface receptor of diverse macromolecular cargo has recently been manifested. Exosomes, cell penetrating peptides, polycation–nucleic acid complexes, viruses, lipoproteins, growth factors and morphogens among other ligands enter cells through HSPG-mediated endocytosis. Key questions that partially have been unraveled over recent years include the respective roles of HSPG core protein and HS chain structure specificity for macromolecular cargo endocytosis, the down-stream intracellular signaling events involved in HSPG-dependent membrane invagination and vesicle formation, and the biological significance of the HSPG transport pathway. Here, we discuss the intriguing role of HSPGs as a major entry pathway of macromolecules in mammalian cells with emphasis on recent in vitro and in vivo data that provide compelling evidence of HSPG as an autonomous endocytosis receptor. • Heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) is a receptor of diverse macromolecular cargo. • HSPG endocytosis is involved in infectious disease, lipid metabolism and cancer. • HSPG represents an interesting target for macromolecular drug delivery. • Recent findings on the intriguing role of HSPG-mediated transport are discussed.
Source: Matrix Biology
Authors: Helena C. Christianson, Mattias Belting
Institutions: Lund University, Skåne University Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Cell Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,280
OpenAlex ID: W1980226233