HSPG2 and atherosclerosis: Perlecan binds, via its protein modules or its GAG chains, to various ECM proteins and cell adhesion molecules, such as integrins, fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), laminin-1, fibronectin, collagen IV, etc. Through these interactions, perlecan plays a major role in the basement membrane architecture and integrity, as well as in physiological and pathological processes, such as atherosclerosis, angiogenesis and cancer [2,24].