Peritoneal Proteoglycans: Much more than Ground Substance

Recent advances in the field of glycobiology have exposed a multitude ofbiological processes that are controlled or influenced by proteoglycans, in bothphysiological and pathological conditions ranging from early embryonicdevelopment, inflammation, and fibrosis to tumor invasion and metastasis. Thefirst part of this article reviews the biosynthesis of proteoglycans and theirmultifunctional roles in health and disease; the second part of this reviewfocuses on their putative roles in peritoneal homeostasis and peritonealinflammation and fibrosis in the context of chronic peritoneal dialysis andperitonitis.