Biosynthesis of small proteoglycans by hepatic lipocytes in primary culture.

Chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate proteoglycans were obtained from the secretions of cultured rat hepatic lipocytes. The collagen-binding small proteoglycan II represented only a minor species (less than 10%), whereas similar amounts of small proteoglycan I and of a novel collagen-binding proteoglycan with a core protein of 101 kDa were found. These results support the concept of a special role of lipocytes in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis.