NCAN

Last update 08 May 2025

Basic Info

Synonyms

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 3, CSPG3, NCAN

+ [3]

Introduction

May modulate neuronal adhesion and neurite growth during development by binding to neural cell adhesion molecules (NG-CAM and N-CAM). Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan; binds to hyaluronic acid.

100 Clinical Results associated with NCAN

100 Translational Medicine associated with NCAN

0 Patents (Medical) associated with NCAN

495

Literatures (Medical) associated with NCAN

01 Jun 2025·Journal of Affective Disorders

Inflammation molecular network alterations in a depressive-like primate model

Article

Author: Wang, Qingyun ; Zhang, Zhiting ; Dai, Ji ; Zhang, Zhijun ; Bu, Siyuan ; Zhang, Gaojia

At present, there are no definitive biomarkers for major depressive disorder (MDD). Previous studies prompted that neuroimmunoinflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of depression and its factors become potential diagnostic biomarkers. Non-human primates exhibit depression-like behavior similar to humans in chronically stressed environments. Therefore, in the present study, after completing Whole transcriptome sequencing of peripheral blood, neurology-related and inflammatory molecules in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid were measured by Olink proximity extension assay technology simultaneously in 4 natural depressive-like (DL) cynomolgus monkeys and 4 normal controls to screen potential biological markers. Further, postmortem brain tissues and peripheral blood RNA sequencing data from MDD patients available in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used for cross-species validation. Compared to control monkeys, depressive-like monkeys exhibited elevated levels of neurocan (NCAN). RNA sequencing revealed Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the interacting S100 calcium-binding protein A family as key molecules in the inflammatory gene network. GEO brain tissue data showed up-regulation of S100A8 and S100A9 in the anterior cingulate cortex of MDD patients. These findings suggest that depressive-like monkeys are in a state of chronic low-grade inflammation and identify NCAN and TLR4 inflammatory network molecules as potential biomarkers of MDD.

01 May 2025·Pain

Formation of perineuronal nets within a thalamocortical circuit shapes mechanical and thermal pain thresholds in mice with neuropathic pain

Article

Author: Battaglia, Giuseppe ; Ginerete, Roxana Paula ; Zampini, Gloria ; Imbriglio, Tiziana ; Nicoletti, Ferdinando ; Mascio, Giada ; Bruno, Valeria ; Castaldi, Sonia ; Cannella, Milena ; Liberatore, Francesca ; Bucci, Domenico ; Ceccherelli, Alessia ; Notartomaso, Serena

AbstractWe moved from the hypothesis that perineuronal nets (PNNs), which are condensed structures of the extracellular matrix surrounding GABAergic interneurons in the forebrain, contribute to mechanisms of maladaptive neuronal plasticity underlying chronic pain. Here, we found that the density of PNNs labelled with the lectin Wisteria Floribunda Agglutinin (WFA) increased in the contralateral somatosensory cortex (SSC), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), reticular thalamic nucleus (RTN), and insular cortex of mice developing neuropathic pain in response to unilateral chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve. These regions are involved in neuronal circuits underlying perception, sufferance, embodiment, and top-down control of pain. At least in the SSC and mPFC, the increased density of WFA+ PNNs was associated with an up-regulation of the proteoglycans, brevican and neurocan, as shown by immunoblot analysis. Enzymatic degradation of PNNs caused by local infusion of chondroitinase ABC in the contralateral SSC or RTN enhanced both mechanical and thermal pain thresholds in chronic constriction injury mice. In contrast, siRNA-induced knock-down of the PNN-degrading enzyme, type-9 matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9), in the SSC or RTN lowered pain thresholds in sham-operated mice. These data, combined with our previous findings obtained in mice with chronic inflammatory pain, suggest that an enhanced formation/reduced degradation of WFA+ PNNs in regions of the pain matrix is associated with different types of chronic pain and may drive mechanisms of nociceptive sensitization leading to reduced mechanical and thermal pain thresholds.

01 Apr 2025·Matrix Biology

Neurocan regulates axon initial segment organization and neuronal activity

Article

Author: Seidenbecher, Constanze ; Schott, Björn Hendrik ; Mirzapourdelavar, Hadi ; Kaushik, Rahul ; Aleshin, Stepan ; Baidoe-Ansah, David ; Dityatev, Alexander

The neural extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulates in the form of perineuronal nets (PNNs), particularly around fast-spiking GABAergic interneurons in the cortex and hippocampus, but also around synapses and in association with the axon initial segments (AIS) and nodes of Ranvier. Increasing evidence highlights the role of Neurocan (Ncan), a brain-specific component of ECM, in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Ncan localizes at PNNs, perisynaptically, and at the nodes of Ranvier and the AIS, highlighting its potential role in regulating axonal excitability. Here, we used knockdown and knockout approaches in mouse primary cortical neurons in combination with immunocytochemistry, Western blotting and electrophysiological techniques to characterize the role of Ncan in the organization of PNNs and AISs and regulation of neuronal activity. We found that reduced Ncan levels led to remodeling of PNNs around neurons via upregulation of aggrecan mRNA and protein levels, increased expression of activity-dependent c-Fos and FosB genes and elevated spontaneous synaptic activity. The latter correlated with increased levels of ankyrin-G in the AIS, particularly in excitatory neurons, and with the elevated expression of Na_v1.6 channels. Our results suggest that Ncan regulates the expression of key proteins in PNNs and AISs and provide new insights into its role in fine-tuning neuronal functions.

Analysis

Perform a panoramic analysis of this field.

view full example data

AI Agents Built for Biopharma Breakthroughs

Accelerate discovery. Empower decisions. Transform outcomes.

Get started for free today!

Accelerate Strategic R&D decision making with Synapse, PatSnap’s AI-powered Connected Innovation Intelligence Platform Built for Life Sciences Professionals.

Start your data trial now!

Synapse data is also accessible to external entities via APIs or data packages. Empower better decisions with the latest in pharmaceutical intelligence.

Bio

Bio Sequences Search & Analysis

Chemical

Chemical Structures Search & Analysis

NCAN

Basic Info

Related

Analysis