神经蛋白聚糖是凝集素蛋白聚糖家族中的一种硫酸软骨素蛋白聚糖,它是神经系统细胞外基质的成份之一,主要存在于中枢神经系统。在脑组织发育过程中,神经蛋白聚糖与一些细胞外基质分子相互作用,在中枢神经系统的发育过程中共同调节细胞的增生、迁徙、分化及轴突的生长、路径的发现和突触的形成与成熟,最终在促进中枢神经系统的解剖和功能分层中发挥作用。在成熟脑组织损伤后的再生修复过程中,表达上调的神经蛋白聚糖再次参与其中,在抑制中枢神经系统的再生与修复过程中发挥重要的作用。
Neurocan is one of the major chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) in the agglutinant proteoglycans family. It is a composition of extracellular matrix of neurocyte and mainly exists in central nervous system (CNS). In development process of brain tissues, neurocan interacts with some molecules in extracellular matrix and co-regulates proliferation, migration and differentiation of the neurocytes, growth of neurit, pathway detection, synapse formation and maturation, ultimately exerts a role in promoting anatomic and functional delamination of the CNS. The up-regulated neurocan participates in regeneration and reconstruction process of the impaired brain tissues and play an important role in suppressing the processes of regeneration and reconstruction of CNS.