Expression of Versican in the Retina and Its Implication in Retinal Disease

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans are characterized by their sulfated glycosaminoglycan chains covalently attached to the core protein. Versican, encoded by the CSPG2 gene, is a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan highly expressed in the human and mouse retina. Due to alternative splicing, it exists in four different isoforms: V0, V1, V2 and V3. Interactions with a variety of proteins lead to its main functions, such as influencing cellular adhesion, migration, proliferation and regulating inflammatory processes. Versican expression is high during retinal development and decreases in the mature tissue, remaining mostly in the retinal pigment epithelium, Bruch's membrane and choroid blood vessel walls. Mutations in the CSPG2 gene resulting in an imbalance of Versican splice variants cause erosive vitreoretinopathy and Wagner disease. Its regulatory role in a variety of functions, especially those influencing extracellular matrix composition and inflammation, suggests a crucial role in the pathomechanisms of retinal degenerative disorders and should be the purpose of future research.