Syndecans are transmembrane heparan @entity597 proteoglycans involved in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, neuronal development, and lipid metabolism. Syndecans are expressed in a tissue-specific manner to facilitate diverse cellular processes. As receptors and co-receptors, syndecans provide promising therapeutic targets that bind to a variety of physiologically important ligands. Negatively charged glycosaminoglycan chains of syndecans, located in the extracellular compartment, are critical for such binding. Functions of syndecans are as diverse as their ligands. For example, hepatic @entity13221 mediates clearance of @entity412 -rich lipoproteins. @entity13222 promotes localization of Alzheimer's amyloid Ab peptide to the cell surface, which is proposed to contribute to amyloid plaque formation. @entity13223 helps co-localize the appetite-regulating @entity1628 with its agonist, leading to an increased appetite. Finally, @entity13224 initiates the capture of modified low-density lipoproteins by macrophages and thereby promotes the @entity1856 formation. We hypothesize that syndecan modifications such as desulfation of glycosaminoglycan chains may contribute to a wide range of diseases, from @entity731 to type 2 @entity6 . At the same time, desulfated syndecans may have beneficial effects, as they can inhibit amyloid plaque formation or decrease the appetite. Despite considerable progress in understanding diverse functions of syndecans, the complex physiological roles of this intriguing family of proteoglycans are far from clear. Additional studies of syndecans may potentially help develop novel therapeutic approaches and diagnostic tools to alleviate complex @entity1 diseases such as cardiovascular and @entity195 .

Role of Syndecans in Lipid Metabolism and XXXX Diseases.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human'] @entity6 :: ('MESH:D003920', 'Disease') :: ['diabetes'] @entity13224 :: ('6385', 'Gene') :: ['syndecan-4'] @entity1628 :: ('4160', 'Gene') :: ['melanocortin-4 receptor'] @entity13223 :: ('9672', 'Gene') :: ['Syndecan-3'] @entity13222 :: ('6383', 'Gene') :: ['Syndecan-2'] @entity412 :: ('CHEBI:17855', 'Chemical') :: ['triglyceride'] @entity195 :: ('MESH:D000544', 'Disease') :: ["Alzheimer's diseases"] @entity13221 :: ('6382', 'Gene') :: ['syndecan-1'] @entity1856 :: ('MESH:D058226', 'Disease') :: ['atheroma'] @entity731 :: ('MESH:D050197', 'Disease') :: ['atherosclerosis'] @entity597 :: ('CHEBI:16189', 'Chemical') :: ['sulfate']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['Human']
