Temporal expression profiles of versican and the DPEAAE fragment during cardiac fibrosis development. The V1 isoform of versican is expressed by collagen-producing fibroblasts early after initiation of pressure overload. Versican is expressed around the vessels before development of perivascular fibrosis. In patients with cardiomyopathies, increased amounts of versican and the DPEAAE fragment were observed in fibrotic regions of the myocardium.