Title:Histidine Rich Glycoprotein, an Endogenous Regulator of Macrophage and Endothelial Biology
Volume: 1
Issue: 2
Author(s): Lena Claesson-Welsh and Sonia Tugues
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Angiogenesis, cancer, Histidine-rich glycoprotein, HRG, inflammation, tumor-associated macrophage, Endothelial Biology
Abstract: Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) is a heparin-binding plasma protein that is produced specifically in the liver.
It circulates in the plasma at high levels both as a free protein and in platelets. HRG has an unusual structure with a very
high content of histidine and proline residues arranged in pentapeptide repeats. The histidine residues in the repeats bind
divalent cations such as Zn2+, which is required for most if not all of the biological effects of HRG. HRG binds a number
of molecules with high affinity, such as heparin/heparan sulfate, heparanase, plasminogen, fibrinogen, thrombospondin,
immunoglobulin G, FcγRs and certain complement proteins. Due to its many binding partners, HRG has been implicated
in the regulation of a range of biological processes including hemostasis, the immune response and pathological angiogenesis.
The mechanisms whereby HRG exerts these effects are still unclear, but direct effects of HRG in vitro and ex
vivo on endothelial cells and macrophages have been described. Even though there are candidates for potential receptors
for HRG, the molecular mechanisms essential for HRG in vivo biology remain to be described. To identify the in vivo target
cell and the mechanisms of HRG’s effect on this cell type is a prerequisite for the exploitation of HRG in clinical
medicine, such as in cancer treatment.
