Functions of lumican and fibromodulin: Lessons from knockout mice

Lumican and fibromodulin are collagen-binding leucine-rich proteoglycans widely distributed in interstitial connective tissues. The phenotypes of lumican-null (Lum(-/-)), Fibromodulin-null (Fmod(-/-)) and compound double-null (Lum(-/-)Fmod(-/-)) mice identify a broad range of tissues where these two proteoglycans have overlapping and unique roles in modulating the extracellular matrix and cellular behavior. The lumican-deficient mice have reduced corneal transparency and skin fragility. The Lum(-/-)Fmod(-/-) mice are smaller than their wildtype littermates, display gait abnormality, joint laxity and age-dependent osteoarthritis. Misaligned knee patella, severe knee dysmorphogenesis and extreme tendon weakness are the likely cause for joint-laxity. Fibromodulin deficiency alone leads to significant reduction in tendon stiffness in the Lum(+/+)Fmod(-/-) mice, with further loss in stiffness in a lumican gene dose-dependent way. At the level of ultrastructure, the Lum(-/-) cornea, skin and tendon show irregular collagen fibril contours and increased fibril diameter. The Fmod(-/-) tendon contains irregular contoured collagen fibrils, with increased frequency of small diameter fibrils. The tendons of Lum(-/-)Fmod(-/-) have an abnormally high frequency of small and large diameter fibrils indicating a deregulation of collagen fibril formation and maturation. In tissues like the tendon, where both proteoglycans are present, fibromodulin may be required early in collagen fibrillogenesis to stabilize small-diameter fibril-intermediates and lumican may be needed at a later stage, primarily to limit lateral growth of fibrils.