Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are major components of extracellular matrix in the central nervous system (CNS) , and play important roles in the development and maintenance of CNS, as welt in pathogenesis or repair processes of neuronal damages. They mainly exert barrier function for neuronal migration and axonogenesis during development and inhibitory effects on plasticity and axon re-growth in the adult nerve system. Digestion of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains or suppression of their synthesis could promote axonal regeneration and functional recovery after CNS injuries. However, many questions about the mechanisms regulating their expression pattern and signal transductions mediating their effects on neurons remain to be investigated.
