Mapping of proteoglycans in human arterial tissue

The major families of proteoglycans in human arterial tissue have been localized and characterized by electron microscopy. After staining with the polycationic dye cuprolinic blue in the presence of a critical electrolyte concentration, three differently sized populations of proteoglycan-cuprolinic blue precipitates are found. The precipitates are distinguished of the basis of their morphology, topographical distribution and susceptibility to specific glycosaminoglycan-degrading enzymes. Each type of proteoglycan is preferentially associated with one connective tissue component: (a) a dermatan sulfate proteoglycan interacts with collagenous fibers, (b) a heparan sulfate proteoglycan is associated with elastic fibers and with the exterior surface of the basement membrane-like layer surrounding smooth muscle cells, and (c) a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan forms aggregates with hyaluronate in the soluble matrix. Information about the pattern of proteoglycans in normal human arterial tissue should constitute a useful basis for evaluating perturbations in proteoglycan distribution in arteriosclerotic plaques.

Biochemical events during stapling of the proximal tibial epiphyseal plate in pigs

Epiphyseal stapling is considered a safe, effective method of correcting angular deformities of the knee in growing children. A study of the underlying biochemical events would contribute to a better understanding of the control of longitudinal growth rate in epiphyseal growth plates and of the molecular pathology of exaggerated physiologic bowleg or knock-knee deformities. Blount stainless staples were applied to the medial side of the proximal tibia epiphyseal growth plate of domestic pigs. The resulting biochemical changes were investigated by incubation of the isolated growth plate cartilage under organ culture conditions. On the fourth to the eighth day after stapling, a significant decrease of [14C]glucose uptake and lactate formation and a significantly lower specific radioactivity of the isolated glycosaminoglycans were observed in relation to the controls. During the second to 12th week, the incorporation of [3H]thymidine and the specific radioactivity of the glycosaminoglycans following incubation with [14C]glucose showed statistically significant decreases. The glycosaminoglycan content of the cartilage was not altered, but the chondroitin sulfate/keratan sulfate ratio was lower in the stapled than in the nonstapled areas. In this period, glucose uptake and lactate production were found to be normalized.

Calmodulin antagonists suppress cholesterol synthesis by inhibiting sterol delta 24 reductase

Preincubation of hepatoma cells and human skin fibroblasts in the presence of the calmodulin antagonists trifluoperazine and N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalene sulfonamide resulted in a dose-dependent suppression of [14C]mevalonolactone incorporation into cholesterol. At a calmodulin antagonist concentration of 25 mumol, the incorporation of [14C]mevalonolactone into cellular cholesterol was suppressed to about 30% (hepatoma cells) and 10% (human skin fibroblasts) of control values. When the total nonsaponifiable [14C]lipids were separated and analyzed by two-dimensional thin layer chromatography, an accumulation of [14C]desmosterol was observed along with reduced formation of [14C]cholesterol. However, when cells were preincubated in the presence of [14C]dihydrolanosterol, [14C]cholesterol formation was not inhibited by the calmodulin antagonists. About 25% of the cell-associated dihydrolanosterol radioactivity was converted to cholesterol in both control and calmodulin antagonist-pretreated cells. The data suggest that calmodulin antagonists prevent the conversion of desmosterol into cholesterol by inhibiting sterol delta 24 reductase and that the enzymes catalyzing sterol ring modifications are not affected by the inhibitors.

Proliferation-dependent changes of proteoglycan metabolism in arterial smooth muscle cells

Cultured arterial smooth muscle cells synthesize and secrete two types of sulfated proteoglycans designated as proteoglycan A and proteoglycan B. Proteoglycan A has been characterized as chondroitin sulfate-rich, whereas proteoglycan B was found to be dermatan sulfate-rich [Schmidt, A. & Buddecke, E. (1985) Eur. J. Biochem. 153, 260-273]. During the logarithmic growth phase, arterial smooth muscle cells incorporated about 3 times more [35S]sulfate into the total proteoglycans secreted into the culture medium than did non-dividing cells. When arterial smooth muscle cells stopped proliferating the ratio of [35S]proteoglycan A/B increased. No differences were detected in the respective molecular and chemical characteristics of purified proteoglycans A and B isolated from both proliferating and non-dividing cells. Regardless of the growth phase proteoglycan A had a molecular mass of about 280 kDa and contained 8-9 chondroitin sulfate-rich side chains. Proteoglycan B had a molecular mass of about 180 kDa and contained 6-7 dermatan sulfate-rich side chains. The [35S]methionine-labelled protein cores of proteoglycan A and B had a molecular mass of about 48 kDa, but were distinguishable by their specific reactions to monospecific antibodies. Proliferating cells endocytosed proteoglycan B at a rate up to 100% higher than that of non-dividing cells. In all growth phases proteoglycan A was endocytosed at a 10-fold lower rate than proteoglycan B.

Increased activity of chondroitin sulfate-synthesizing enzymes during proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells

Cultured arterial smooth muscle cells incorporate [35S]sulfate into the extracellular chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate containing proteoglycans at a higher rate in the phase of logarithmic growth than do non-dividing cells. The cell growth-dependent decrease in 35S incorporation with increasing cell density is accompanied by a decrease in the activity of chondroitin sulfate-synthesizing enzymes. The specific activity of xylosyl transferase, N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase I and chondroitin sulfotransferase declines as the cells proceed from low to high densities. The corresponding correlation coefficients are 0.86, 0.91 and 0.89. The ratio of C-6OH/C-4OH sulfation of chondroitin shows a cell proliferation-dependent decrease indicating an inverse correlation of chondroitin 6-sulfotransferase and chondroitin 4-sulfotransferase activity. The observed changes in the expression of enzyme activities are thought to have some implications in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis, the initial stages of which are characterized by proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells.

Isolation and characterization of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans from human chondrosarcoma

The proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans of four human chondrosarcomas with different degrees of malignancy (I-III) have been studied. The hydrodynamic size of proteoglycan subunits and the tissue concentration of total glycosaminoglycans decreased with increasing grade of malignancy. The glycosaminoglycan distribution pattern of all chondrosarcomas showed a similar ratio of chondroitin-4-sulfate:chondroitin-6-sulfate but an increasing portion of keratan sulfate from grade I (6.5%) to grade III (19.2%). Determinations of the molecular weight (Mr values) of glycosaminoglycans were made after 3H labeling by alkaline reduction of proteoglycans in the presence of NaB3H4. The Mr of [3H]chondroitin sulfate isomers decreased markedly from grade I (35,500) to grade III (15,100) while the chain length of [3H]keratan sulfate showed minor variations (Mr 5600-6200). The previously reported decrease in the molecular weight of keratan sulfate with increasing degree of malignancy (S. Pal, W. Strider, R. Margolis, G. Gallo, S. Lee-Huang, and L. Rosenberg, 1978, J. Biol. Chem. 253, 1279-1289) was not observed.

Compartmentation and characterization of different proteoglycans in bovine arterial wall

Proteoglycans stained specifically with cuprolinic blue have been visualized in electron micrographs of bovine arterial tissue. Three differently sized proteoglycan-cuprolinic blue precipitates, designated as types I, II, and III, could be detected in the extracellular matrix. The precipitates could be distinguished by their length, width, area, topographical distribution, and their characteristic association with other matrix components. By taking into account the available biochemical data and the individual susceptibilities of the precipitates towards specific glycosaminoglycan-degrading enzymes, each type of proteoglycan-cuprolinic blue precipitate could be attributed to a proteoglycan population containing dermatan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, or heparan sulfate as its main glycosaminoglycan component.

Calcium channel blockers stimulate LDL receptor synthesis in human skin fibroblasts

Human skin fibroblasts incubated in lipoprotein-deficient medium in the presence of 50-100 microM of the calcium channel blockers verapamil or diltiazem incorporated up to 2.5 times more [35S]methionine into immunoprecipitable LDL receptor protein than did control cells. Verapamil was found to be more potent in this regard than diltiazem. The calcium channel blockers did not influence the overall synthesis of cellular proteins or the half-life of the LDL receptor, and they were not able to prevent the suppression of LDL receptor synthesis caused by exogenous LDL or 25-hydroxycholesterol. The calcium channel blocker-induced stimulation of LDL receptor synthesis was accompanied by a corresponding increase in binding and internalization of [125I]LDL, but the degradation of internalized lipoprotein was slightly decreased. The results suggest that intracellular Ca2+ levels modulate LDL receptor metabolism in human skin fibroblasts.

Purification and characterization of a 3'-phosphoadenylylsulfate:chondroitin 6-sulfotransferase from arterial tissue

A 3'-phosphoadenylylsulfate:chondroitin sulfotransferase (EC 2.8.2.5) was purified to homogeneity (about 760-fold) from the cytosolic fraction of calf arterial tissue by Con A-Sepharose, ion exchange and affinity chromatography. The enzyme has a molecular mass of 38000 Da, optimal activity at pH 6.0 (100%) and 7.25 (75%), requires divalent cations for maximal activity (Mn2+ greater than Mg2+, Ca2+) and exhibits specificity towards desulfated chondroitin sulfate and oligosaccharides derived therefrom. The enzyme transfers sulfate groups from [35S]phosphoadenylylsulfate exclusively to C-6 OH groups of N-acetylgalactosamine units of the acceptor substrates. Maximal sulfate transfer occurs at 2mM chondroitin disaccharide units (100%), the transfer rates decreasing with decreasing chain length in the order deca (55%), octa (17%) and hexasaccharides (4%). Lineweaver-Burk plots revealed equal maximal velocities for chondroitin, deca-, octa- and hexasaccharide, but decreasing Km values. Chondroitin 4-sulfate has 21% of the acceptor potency exhibited by chondroitin, whereas dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate and hyaluronate and the chondroitin tetrasaccharide showed no acceptor properties. Analysis of the reaction products formed by prolonged enzymatic sulfation of a reduced chondroitin hexasaccharide [GlcA-GalNAc]2-GlcA-GalNAc-ol revealed that the preterminal N-acetylgalactosamine from the non-reducing end and the internal N-acetylgalactosamine but not the N-acetylgalactosaminitol were sulfated and that no hexasaccharide disulfate was formed by the action of chondroitin 6-sulfotransferase. Chondroitin 6-sulfotransferase is considered to possess a binding region capable of accommodating a nonsulfated oligosaccharide sequence of at least six sugars and is believed to act in the course of chondroitin sulfate synthesis in cooperation with, but shortly after, the enzymes involved in the chain elongation reaction.

High-uptake and low-uptake forms of proteoglycans secreted by arterial smooth muscle cells

Cultured arterial smooth muscle cells synthesize and secrete two types of sulfated proteoglycans, designated as proteoglycan A and B, into the culture medium. They are isolated as immunologically distinct monomers with relative molecular masses of 280 X 10(3) and 180 X 10(3) and are characterized as chondroitin-sulfate-rich (A) and dermatan-sulfate-rich (B) proteoglycans. Both proteoglycan A and B were labelled with [35S]sulfate and used for studies of endocytosis. Uptake of proteoglycan B by arterial smooth muscle cells shows saturable kinetics. At saturation (500 microM) one cell may endocytose up to 1.5 X 10(6) proteoglycan B molecules/h. Proteoglycan A is internalized at a 10-fold lower rate. No saturation kinetics were observed at high proteoglycan A concentrations (500 microM). Endocytosis of proteoglycan B in the presence of an excess of proteoglycan A and vice versa suggest that proteoglycan A and B do not compete for the same receptor site. Free hyaluronate or chondroitin sulfate do not inhibit the uptake of proteoglycan B or A. The results suggest that proteoglycan B is internalized by arterial smooth muscle cells via a high-affinity receptor-mediated process, whereas proteoglycan A is taken up by fluid endocytosis and/or by low-affinity endocytotic processes.

Glucocorticoid-stimulated biosynthesis of low density lipoprotein receptor in cultured fibroblasts

Preincubation of human skin fibroblasts in the presence of 10(-6)-10(-5) mol/l glucocorticoids (dexamethasone) causes a concentration and time-dependent increase of receptor-mediated internalisation of [125I]LDL. This increase is due to a glucocorticoid-specific stimulation by 40-50% of LDL receptor synthesis as demonstrated by an increased incorporation of [35S]methionine into immune precipitated receptor protein. In contrast the rate of synthesis of total cell protein and of lysosomal cathepsin D is not significantly influenced by dexamethasone. The increased LDL receptor synthesis is accompanied by an enhanced synthesis of cholesterol from [2-3H]mevalonolactone and [1-14C]acetate. The glucocorticoid-induced enhancement of LDL receptor and cholesterol synthesis is abolished by preincubation of the cells with dexamethasone in combination with 25-hydroxycholesterol.

Two N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase are involved in the biosynthesis of chondroitin sulfate

Two N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases, designated I and II, have been purified from the microsomal fraction of calf arterial tissue and separated on Bio-Gel A. N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferase I was purified 450-fold. It requires Mn2+ for maximal activity and transfers N-acetylgalactosamine residues from UDP-[1-3H]GalNAc in beta-glycosidic configuration to the non-reducing terminus of the acceptor substrates GlcA(beta 1-3)Gal(beta 1-3)Gal, GlcA(beta 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)Glc and GlcA(beta 1-3)Gal. Even-numbered chondroitin oligosaccharides serve as acceptors for N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase II, which transfers N-acetylgalactosamine from UDP-[1-3H]GalNAc to the non-reducing glucuronic acid residues of oligosaccharide acceptor substrates. Maximum transfer rates were obtained with a decasaccharide derived from chondroitin. Longer or shorter-chain chondroitin oligosaccharides are less effective acceptor substrates. All reaction products formed by N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases I and II are substrates of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase, which splits off the transferred [1-3H]GalNAc completely. In the microsomal fraction N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase II had a 300-fold higher specific activity than N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase I. In contrast to enzyme I, enzyme II loses much of its activity during the purification procedure and undergoes rapid thermodenaturation. GlcA-Gal-Gal is a characteristic sequence of the carbohydrate-protein linkage region of proteochondrioitin sulfate. The acceptor capacity of this trisaccharide suggests that N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase I is involved in the synthesis of the carbohydrate-protein linkage region. Since N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase II is highly specific for chondroitin oligosaccharides, we conclude that it participates in chain elongation during chondroitin sulfate synthesis.

Alteration of glycosyltransferase activities during proliferation of cultivated arterial endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells

The activities of glycosyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of N-linked glycans of glycoproteins in cultivated endothelial and smooth muscle cells have been analysed. Both cell types contain galactosyl-, N-acetylglucosaminyl-, sialyl- and fucosyltransferases in decreasing order of activity, but the specific enzyme activity of glycosyltransferases is higher in endothelial cells. These differences are due neither to elevated glycosidase activities nor to enhanced hydrolysis of nucleotide sugars. Cell growth and differentiation have substantial influence on glycosyltransferase expression. Within 5 days after plating of endothelial cells all glycosyltransferase activities increase 3-10-fold. The highest activities are found in confluent cultures. In smooth muscle cells, however, the activities of all transferases except N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, whose activity does not change during the logarithmic growth phase, increase by only 20-50%. Glycosidases are subject to variations but the specific activities are not strictly correlated to cell proliferation. Four days after the beginning of cultivation the activities of alpha-fucosidase and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase are at a minimum in endothelial cells, whereas the activities of these enzymes attain their maxima in smooth muscle cells. The results suggest that the biosynthesis of glycoproteins in endothelial and smooth muscle cells is subject to growth-dependent regulation. Thus, substantial alterations of the cellular glycoprotein pattern are expected to occur during cell proliferation.

Proliferation, morphology, and low-density lipoprotein metabolism of arterial endothelial cells cultured from normal and diabetic minipigs

Aortic endothelial cells from control and streptozotocin diabetic minipigs were cultured. Both groups of cells exhibited the typical cobblestone-like appearance and gap junction formation. Endothelial cells derived from diabetic minipigs differed, however, from those from control animals by a higher rate of proliferation and a higher percentage of large and often multinucleated cells. In these cells the specific binding of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) to coated pits on the cell surface, the LDL uptake, and the intracellular transport of LDL to lysosomes were visualized by gold-labeled LDL complexes. The binding, internalization, and degradation of LDL by subconfluent, non-contact-inhibited endothelial cells was quantified using 125I-labeled LDL. The LDL metabolism of endothelial cells derived from diabetic animals was increased by about 40% compared to endothelial cells derived from nondiabetic animals.

Binding and degradation of proteoglycans by cultured arterial smooth muscle cells. II. Binding sites of proteoglycans on the cell surface

Exogenous proteoglycans stained for electron microscopy with colloidal gold and/or cuprolinic blue bind to the surface of cultured arterial smooth muscle cells at two different sites. (I) About 20% of the proteoglycans adsorbed to the cells from the culture medium interact as monomeric and multimeric proteoglycans with smooth or coated membrane areas. (II) The bulk of exogenous proteoglycans exhibits high affinity binding to cell membrane-associated 10 nm fibrils containing or being closely associated with fibronectin and to collagen. It is suggested that the self association of proteoglycans and their binding to the cell membrane and to cell surface-associated fibronectin and collagen are important for maintaining an appropriate micro-environment for the cultured cells.

Chemical changes of human knee joint menisci in various stages of degeneration

Human knee joint menisci graded according to degenerative alterations were submitted to chemical analysis. Normal menisci contained 72% water, 0.12% DNA, 22% collagen, and 0.8% total glycosaminoglycans with the following glycosaminoglycan distribution pattern: 40% chondroitin 6-sulphate, 10-20% chondroitin 4-sulphate, 20-30% dermatan sulphate, and 15% keratan sulphate. The water content increased with increasing degeneration, whereas the collagen and glycosaminoglycan contents decreased with relative increase of chondroitin 6-sulphate.

Influence of muzolimine on arterial wall elastin

Muzolimine, 3-amino-1-(3,4-dichloro-alpha-methylbenzyl)-2- pyrazolin -5-one, an antihypertensive and diuretic drug, accumulates in the arterial tissue of rats and dogs after oral administration. Two weeks after the administration of 3 mg [14C]muzolimine, the aorta of rats contained 60-300 times more 14C-radioactivity/weight unit than the skin or tail tendon. The 14C-radioactivity was exclusively bound to the isolated aortic elastin and corresponded to 0.04% of the applied muzolimine dose. Up to ca 250 ng bound muzolimine/mg elastin was found in the aorta of dogs treated with non-labelled muzolimine for 52 weeks. The elastin-bound [14C]muzolimine was not extractable by organic solvents or by weak acids or bases but was released in a soluble form by pancreatic elastase and extracted from the elastase digest by dichloromethane. In the dichloromethane extract muzolimine was detected by HPLC and HPTLC, and was identified by mass spectrometry. Muzolimine pretreatment of rats for 2 months did not influence the elastin content of arterial tissue or [3H]glycine incorporation into aortic elastin under organ culture conditions, but after labelling the elastin with [4,5-3H]lysine, the [3H]desmosine and [3H]-isodesmosine isolated from the elastin of muzolimine-pretreated rats and incorporated under organ culture conditions was lower than that of control animals. In addition, aortic elastin of rats pretreated for 2 months with 800 ppm muzolimine in the diet was more resistant to elastase degradation. This effect might give some implications for muzolimine in the therapy of cardiovascular disorders with impaired arterial elastin metabolism.

Binding and degradation of proteoglycans by cultured arterial smooth muscle cells. I. Endocytosis and intracellular translocation of proteoglycan-gold conjugates

Proteoglycans (Mr approximately 200 000) isolated from bovine arterial tissue were decorated with 17 nm diameter gold particles for tracing in electron microscopic thin sections and surface replicas. Lysine and arginine residues of their proteoglycan protein core are assumed to be essential for gold conjugation. The resulting proteoglycan-gold conjugates, which appear as pearl string-like gold strands of about 170 nm in length were used to visualize binding, endocytosis and intracellular translocation of proteoglycans by homologous cultured arterial smooth muscle cells. The proteoglycan-gold conjugates bind to coated as well as to non-coated cell surface membrane areas at 4 degrees C. This is followed by the formation of membrane invaginations. Postincubation at 37 degrees C leads to a time-dependent uptake of proteoglycan-gold conjugates via non-coated and coated vesicles which after fusion are translocated to multivesicular bodies and to large sized vesicles within 1 h. After conversion of these vesicles to lysosomal compartments the gold particles are uncoupled from the proteoglycans and are concentrated within residual vacuoles. From these vacuoles the gold particles are extruded. In contrast to the surface-bound proteoglycan-gold conjugates the released gold particles are condensed to bulky aggregates. The results, which include competition, inhibition and pulse chase experiments, extend biochemical data on endocytosis and degradation of proteoglycans.

Characterization of proteoglycans synthesized by cultured arterial smooth muscle cells of the rat

Arterial smooth muscle cells cultured from rat aorta were labelled with sodium [35S]-sulfate in combination with either [3H]glucosamine or [3H]mannose. The newly synthesized hyaluronate and sulfated proteoglycans obtained from the growth medium (M-PG) and extracted from the cell layer (C-PG) with 4M guanidinium chloride in the presence of proteinase inhibitors were purified by sequential fractionation on Sepharose 4B CL, equilibrium density gradient centrifugation and ion exchange chromatography under dissociative conditions. Gel filtration of M-PG resulted in the separation of free hyaluronate and two size classes of [35S]-proteoglycan populations eluted at Kav 0.15 (fraction M-A) and 0.48 (fraction M-B). On further fractionation M-A dissociated into hyaluronate (Mr 1.6 X 10(6)) and a proteoglycan monomer (M-PG A, Mr 180 000), which contained chondroitin 4-sulfate (Mr 21 000) as the main glycosaminoglycan moiety. The proteoglycan isolated from M-B (M-PG B) was identified as a proteoglycan monomer (Mr 200 000) containing mainly chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate hybrid side chains (Mr 34 000). [3H]Mannose labelling and binding to ConA Sepharose of both M-PG A and B indicated the presence of oligosaccharides of the glycoprotein type. An analogous fractionation of proteoglycans associated with the cell layer yielded two hyaluronate-proteoglycan complexes (C- PreA and C-A). The proteoglycan monomers of these complexes (C-PG PreA and C-PG A) had Mr values of 420 000 and 130 000. A non-complexed proteoglycan monomer C-PG B (Mr 90 000) was also found. All cell layer bound proteoglycans had glycosaminoglycan side chains with Mr approximately 36 000 but the predominant glycosaminoglycan component was either heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate or dermatan sulfate. All cell layer bound proteoglycans contained [3H]mannose radioactivity, about 15% of which was bound to ConA Sepharose.

Purification and characterization of 3'-phosphoadenylylsulfate: N-desulfoheparan sulfate sulfotransferase from arterial tissue

A 3'-phosphoadenylsulfate: N-desulfoheparan sulfate sulfotransferase (EC 2.8.2.12) was purified 450-fold from the microsomal fraction of calf arterial tissue and separated from 3'-phosphoadenylylsulfate:chondroitin sulfotransferase (EC 2.8.2.5) activity. The enzyme has optimal activity at neutral pH, requires divalent cations (Mn2+, Mg2+, Ca2+) for maximal activity and exhibits specificity towards N-desulfoheparan sulfate, N,O-desulfoheparan sulfate and oligosaccharides derived therefrom. N,O-desulfoheparan sulfate tetrasaccharides serve as acceptor substrates only if the nonreducing terminus is occupied by glucuronic acid (not iduronic acid). The N,O-desulfoheparan sulfate sulfotransferase transfers [35S]sulfate from 3'-phosphoadenylyl[35S]sulfate to the 2-amino groups and to the 6-hydroxy groups of glucosamine units of the acceptor substrates. The ratio of N/O-sulfation ranged between 3:1 and 2:1. O-[35S]Sulfated unsaturated disaccharides were obtained from enzymatically labelled [35S]N-desulfoheparan sulfate by heparitinase degradation and subsequent deamination. Evidence for the O-sulfation at C-6 of the glucosamine units was provided by isolation of anhydromannose [35S]monosulfate, which was formed from uronosylanhydromannose [35S]monosulfate by beta-glucuronidase treatment. An N-desulfo-N-[1-14C]lacetylheparan sulfate deacetylase activity was copurified with the N-desulfoheparan sulfate sulfotransferase.

[35S]proteoglycan metabolism of arterial smooth muscle cells cultured from normotensive and hypertensive rats

Arterial smooth muscle cells cultured from normotensive and hypertensive rats incorporated [35S]sulfate into the extracellular and pericellular sulfated proteoglycans and endocytose extracellular [35S]proteoglycans at a significantly higher rate in the phase of logarithmic growth than did nondividing cells. 35S incorporation into proteoglycans was positively correlated with [3H]thymidine incorporation into the cellular TCA-precipitable material. The rates of [35S]proteoglycan synthesis and endocytosis per cell pr day were higher in smooth muscle cells from hypertensive than from normotensive animals, the observed differences being related to a higher average protein content of smooth muscle cells cultured from hypertensive rats as compared with cells of normotensive animals. Gel filtration under dissociative conditions separated the [35S]proteoglycans into high and low molecular weight fractions (A, B) differing in glycosaminoglycan composition and their ability to be endocytosed by smooth muscle cells. The relative proportion of the high molecular weight proteoglycan fraction A decreased continuously from sparse to confluent cell cultures.

Sphingolipid-induced enhancement of receptor-mediated uptake of low density lipoproteins in normal and receptor-deficient human skin fibroblasts

(1) The receptor mediated endocytosis of homologous LDL by human skin fibroblasts can be significantly enhanced by prior incubation of the cells with sphingolipids. Gangliosides GM1 or GD1a, their desialylated derivatives and sphingosine stimulate binding and uptake to LDL by up to 40% of normal values. The effect is observed in normal fibroblasts, LDL receptor deficient fibroblasts or in tunicamycin-treated cells with a reduced number of functional receptors but is dependent on the time of preincubation of the cells and the concentration of the sphingolipid in the medium. (2) Detailed studies on the ganglioside effect revealed, that cell bound gangliosides intensify the LDL-induced suppression of [14C] acetate incorporation into cholesterol. (3) The receptor dependence and relative receptor specificity of the sphingolipid effect is evident from the fact that (a) after complete suppression of receptor synthesis gangliosides fail to stimulate uptake of LDL, that (b) fatty acids or lipids not containing sphingosine are without effect and that (c) the receptor specific internalisation of alpha 2-macroglobulin or epidermal growth factor is not influenced by exogenous sphingolipids.

Phosphate ester groups in proteoglycans from bovine nasal cartilage

1. Proteoglycan subunits isolated by standard procedures from bovine nasal cartilage, previously incubated in the presence of [32P]phosphate contain [32]-phosphate ester groups as a regular structural component. 2. Contamination of the proteoglycan subunit with 32P-labeled nucleic acids could be excluded by repeated cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation under associative and dissociative conditions, lanthanum chloride precipitation, gel filtration and by the resistance of the proteoglycan subunit associated 32P to phosphoric diester hydrolases. 3. The [32P]phosphate ester groups are associated to the chondroitin sulfate peptide fraction obtained by proteolytic digestion of the proteoglycan subunit molecule. Degradation of the chondroitin sulfate peptide by chondroitinase ABC resulted in a 32P-labelled oligosaccharide peptide fraction, that contains xylose, galactose, glucuronic acid and inorganic phosphate in a molar ratio 1 : 2 : 1 : 0.12. 4. 32P radioactivity is released as inorganic phosphate by treatment of the 32P-labelled oligosaccharide peptide with acid phosphatase or alkali.

Age-related changes in the incorporation of [35S]sulfate into two proteoglycan populations from human cartilage

From human hyaline cartilage (processus xyphoid) preincubated in the presence of [35S]sulfate, proteoglycans were extracted by 4M guanidinium chloride and divided into 6 age groups. Fractionation of proteoglycans by gel filtration under dissociative conditions resulted in two proteoglycan fractions (a and b) with different hydrodynamic volumes. The higher molecular weight fraction a contained chondroitin sulfate, the fraction b keratan sulfate as predominant glycosaminoglycan, the chondroitin sulfate/keratan sulfate ratio decreasing with increasing age in either fraction. The relative portion of proteoglycan fraction b and its 35S-labelling increased with increasing age. From the specific 35S radioactivities of the chondroitin sulfate and keratan sulfate preparations, the occurrence of two independent proteoglycan populations is suggested. A precursor-product relationship between proteoglycan fraction a and b could be excluded.

Homologous low density lipoprotein does not affect proteoglycan metabolism of cultured skin fibroblasts and arterial smooth muscle cells

The relevance of lipoprotein-glycosaminoglycan interactions on the proteoglycan metabolism was investigated. The following results were obtained: 1) Biosynthesis of [35S]proteoglycans by cultured human skin fibroblasts and their distribution to different compartments are neither affected by preincubation of the cells with homologous LDL nor by their presence. The internalisation of LDL was evidenced by a marked depression of [14C]cholesterol synthesis from [1-(14)C]-acetate. 2) Under the conditions of endocytosis experiments the formation of insoluble proteoglycan-LDL complexes is insignificant. Endocytosis and degradation of exogenous proteoglycans by skin fibroblasts or arterial smooth muscle cells proceed at normal rates in the presence of low or excess LDL concentrations. 3) From the results it may be concluded, that internalized LDL and their degradation products neither influence the synthesis and distribution of sulfated proteoglycans nor control expression and function of proteoglycan specific cell surface receptors.

Acceptor-specific glucuronyl transfer catalyzed by beta-glucuronidase

Highly purified rat liver microsomal or lysosomal beta-glucuronidase (beta-D-glucuronide glucuronosohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.31) catalyzes the specific transfer of glucuronly residues from phenyl-beta-D-[U-14C]glucuronide to acceptor sugars. Specificity requirements of acceptor sugars are found to be: pyranose structure, 4C1-conformation and equatorial position of C2 and C3 hydroxyl groups or pyranose structure, 1C4-conformation and equatorial position of C3 and C4 hydroxyl groups. The acceptor capacities of 30 monosaccharides and glycosides including di- and tri- saccharides conform to this prinicple. The specificity of the beta-glucuronidase catalyzed glucuronyl transfer is proved by the exclusive formation of beta-glucuronly (1--3)glycosidic linkages. Glucuronly transfer rates increase with increasing donor substrate and increasing acceptor sugar concentration. In the presence of 1 M acceptor sugar the ratio of the transfer rate to the rate of enzymatic hydrolysis is about 2:1. An 'acceptor substrate binding site' on the surface of the beta-glucuronidase molecule which brings the C3 hydroxyl function of the acceptor sugar close enough to the C1 atom of the glucuronyl residue, is postulated.

Sialic-acid content of low-density lipoproteins controls their binding and uptake by cultured cells

The (high-affinity receptor)-mediated uptake of homologous low-density (low-rho) lipoproteins by cultured human arterial smooth muscle cells or human skin fibroblasts is controlled by the sialic acid content of low-rho lipoprotein particles. This conclusion is derived from the following results. 1. Gangliosides incubated with native low-rho lipoproteins associate with low-rho lipoprotein particles. Low-rho lipoproteins modified by associated GLac1, GGtet1, and GGtet2b + GGtet3 gangliosides are internalized by arterial smooth muscle cells at a rate up to 80% lower than native low-rho lipoproteins or those preincubated with desialized gangliosides. 2. The inhibitory effect of gangliosides is specific for high affinity uptake and not detectable on skin fibroblasts deficient in low-rho-lipoprotein receptor. 3. Desialyzed low-rho lipoproteins are internalized by smooth muscle cells up to 100% faster than native low-rho lipoproteins, the enhancement of uptake corresponding to the degree of desialization.

Endocytosis of sulphated proteoglycans by cultured skin fibroblasts

1. Human skin fibroblasts internalize homologous sulphated proteoglycans by adsorptive endocytosis. Endocytosis rate is half maximal when the concentration of the proteoglycans is 0.1 nM. At saturation, a single fibroblast may endocytose up to 8 X 10(6) proteoglycan molecules/h. 2. The kinetics of prote;glycan binding to the cell surface suggest the presence of 6 X 10(5) high-affinity binding sites per cell. The bulk of sulphated proteoglycans associates to low-affinity binding sites on the cell surface. 3. Glycosaminoglycans and other anionic macromolecules inhibit endocytosis of sulphated proteoglycans non-competitively. The lack of interaction of glycosaminoglycans with the cell-surface receptors for sulphated proteoglycans suggests that the protein core of proteoglycans is essential for binding to the cell surface. 4. The effects of trypsin, cell density, serum concentration and medium pH on endocytosis and degradation of endocytosed sulphated proteoglycans is described. 5. A comparison of the number of the high-affinity binding sites and the number of molecules endocytosed with respect to time suggests a recycling of the proteoglycan receptors between the cell surface and the endocytotic vesicles and/or the lysosomes.

Correlation of lysozyme activity with proteoglycan biosynthesis in epiphyseal cartilage

Pig epiphyseal cartilage (proximal ulna epiphysis) previously incubated into vitro in the presence of sodium [35S]sulfate or [3H]thymidine was either analyzed by autoradiography or separated into 9 morphologically defined consecutive layers and investigated for 35S-incorporation into the guanidinium chloride-extractable proteoglycans and for lysozyme activity. The lowest 35S incorporation and lysozyme activity were determined in the zone of resting cells, but there is a consecutive increase in the rate of proteoglycan synthesis and lysozyme activity toward the diaphyseal cartilage-bone junction, with the maximum at the lower columnar cell zone and a sharp reduction of both parameters at the hypertrophic zone. The maxima of 35S incorporation and [3H]thymidine incorporation do not coincide. The guanidinium chloride-soluble proteoglycans exhibit macromolecular polydispersity. Fractions excluded from as well as retarded by Sepharose 2B gel could be separated and were detected in all zones. The results indicate a correlation of proteoglycan biosynthesis and lysozyme activity in epiphyseal cartilage.

Morphological and autoradiographical characterization of membrane-like layers surrounding cultured fibroblasts

Two membrane-like layers of approximately 7 nM thickness were observed in ultrathin cross-sections of flat-embedded cultured fibroblasts. One "membrane", underlying the cell-monolayer, possibly established contacts between cells and substratum. The other "membrane" covered the whole cell culture. These "membranes" were at least partially synthesized by the cells themselves, as was shown by high resolution autoradiography. With regard to our biochemical findings, the autoradiographical results showed that components of these "membranes" consisted of sulfated proteoglycans and may be the morphological equivalent to the biochemically well-defined cell surface associated material, the so-called pericellular pool of glycosaminoglycans.

Amount and properties of uptake forms in preparations of alpha-mannosidase from pig kidney

alpha-Mannosidase (alpha-D-mannoside mannohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.24) from pig kidney has been shown to exist in multiple forms differing in their capability to be endocytosed by alpha-mannosidase deficient cultured cells. A method is presented to evaluate the amount of "uptake" forms in different preparations of the enzyme. Preparations with different rates of uptake were shown to contain different amount of "uptake" forms and "non-uptake" forms. The content of "uptake" forms in a preparation was identical with that of enzyme molecules bearing a phosphorylated carbohydrate group necessary for the recognition by cell surface receptors.

Differences in intracellular corrective activity in cultured mannosidosis cells of acidic alpha-mannosidases from various sources

The ability of acidic alpha-mannosidases from pig kidney, bovine liver, human urine and placenta, and jack bean to correct the deranged metabolism of cultured skin fibroblasts from manosidosis patients is studied. One cause for the different corrective abilities are, as shown for other systems, the different rates of endocytosis of the enzyme forms into the cells. Besides this, it is demonstrated for the first time, that there are differences in the intracellular corrective activity of the internalized enzymes, which can be explained by different specificities of the enzymes against the storage material.

p-Chlorophenoxyisobutyrate enhanced retention of homologous lipoproteins by human aortic smooth muscle cells

Human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) specifically bind and take up indiscriminately both the lipid and protein moieties of homologous 25I-very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and 125I-low density lipoproteins LDL). Sixty-five to 80% of absorbed lipids are incorporated into the cell lipids, preferentially into the phospholipid fraction. Twenty to 35% of the lipid bound and the protein moiety are eliminated from the cells. Half of the eliminated protein label is recovered as TCA soluble products. Five mM of p-chlorophenoxyisobutyrate (CPIB) raise the level of intracellular radioactivity derived from the lipid moieties of VLDL and LDL by about 40% via a reduced elimination. The processing of the protein moiety and lipoprotein binding to the cell surface are not affected by 5.0 mM of CPIB. CPIB lowers the incorporation of 14C-acetate, 14C-pyruvate, and 32phosphate radioactivity into fatty acids and phospholipids of aortic SMC. Five mM of CPIB reduce the overall palmitic acid synthesis by shifting from de novo synthesis to the mechanism of chain elongation, although the further elongation to saturated C18-C24 fatty acids is also depressed. The CPIB-enhanced retention of the lipid-derived lipoprotein radio-activity is interpreted as a compensatory mechanism providing cellular fatty acids which are deficient as a result of the CPIB inhibited synthetic processes.

[Serum lysozyme concentrations in patients with morbus Crohn before and after bowel resection (author's transl)]

Serum lysozyme (muramidase) concentrations were determined in five patients with Morbus Crohn before and after resection of inflammated bowel areas. The serum lysozyme activity which was elevated before surgical treatment in all patients fell to normal values after bowel resection within a few hours. Our findings suggest, that the elevated serum lysozyme reflects an increased lysozyme production in the inflammated bowel tissue.

Storage of mannose-containing material in cultured human mannosidosis cells and metabolic correction by pig kidney alpha-mannosidase

Skin fibroblasts from healthy individuals and a mannosidosis patient were cultured in the presence of [2-3H] mannose and the cell homogenates were fractionated by trichloroacetic acid precipitation into a precipitable and a non-precipitable portion. In uptake as well as in chase experiments the precipitable fractions show no significant difference in their content of radioactivity, while an increased level of radioactivity is found in the non-precipitable fraction of mannosidosis cells. This higher radioactivity content is due to a higher mannose content and is caused by a slower degradation of this fraction. The differences between the metabolisms of the two cell lines can be expressed by the ratio of radioactivity in the non-precipitable and the precipitable fractions. This value is about three times higher for mannosidosis than for control cells. Pig kidney alpha-mannosidase is taken up by both cell lines and is able to correct the impaired degradation of the non-precipitable material in mannosidosis cells, as shown by the normalization of the above defined ratio of radioactivity for this cell type.

14C-GLUCOSE AND 35S-METABOLISM OF PIG EPIPHYSIAL CARTILAGE AND ITS VARIATIONS AFTER OSTEOTOMY

on in vitro incubation of articular and epiphysial cartilage of the ulna of the domestic pig 70 to 80 per cent of [U-14C] glucose was metabolised to 14C-lactate, but cartilage of the epiphysial plate produced up to five times as much 14C-CO2 as articular cartilage, and the specific radioactivity of 14C (or 35S)-chondroitin 4 (6)-sulphate isolated from epiphysial cartilage (following 35S-sulphate incorporation) was about twice as high as that of articular cartilage. Six weeks after an osteotomy on both sides of the proximal epiphysial plate of the left ulna, the glucose uptake, lactate production, and the specific radioactivity of the glycosaminoglycans displayed no significant differences when compared with those of the corresponding epiphysial plate of the control right ulna, whereas a 50 per cent increase in the oxidation of 14C-glucose to 14c-co2 was observed.

14C-glucose and 35S-metabolism of pig epiphysial cartilage and its variations after osteotomy

On in vitro incubation of articular and epiphysial cartilage of the ulna of the domestic pig 70 to 80 per cent of [U-14C] glucose was metabolised to 14C-lactate, but cartilage of the epiphysial plate produced up to five times as much 14C-CO2 as articular cartilage, and the specific radioactivity of 14C(or 35S)-chondroitin 4(6)-sulphate isolated from epiphysial cartilage (following 35S-sulphate incorporation) was about twice as high as that of articular cartilage. Six weeks after an osteotomy on both sides of the proximal epiphysial plate of the lift ulna, the glucose uptake, lactate production, and the specific radioactivity of the glycosaminoglycans displayed no significant differences when compared with those of the corresponding epiphysial plate of the control right ulna, whereas a 50 per cent increase in the oxidation of 14C-glucose to 14C-CO2 was observed.

Studies on the chemistry of arterial wall, XVII. Metabolic characteristics of different types of chondroitin sulfate-dermatan sulfate hybrids in arterial tissue

1) Chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate of bovine arterial tissue exist as copolymers with a varying degree of hybridization between chondroitin and dermatan sulfates. A fraction rich in dermatan sulfate hybridized with 20% chondroitin sulfate (termed DS-rich hybrid) and a fraction rich in chondroitin sulfate containing 17% DS as copolymer constituent (CS-rich hybrid) can be isolated by the subfractionation of the arterial tissue CS-DS preparation. 2) When arterial tissue segments were preincubated with [14C]glucosamine, 95% of the radioactivity incorporated into the glycosaminoglycans was found to be present in the galactosamine moiety of all of the CS-DS subfractions, whereas the relative proportion of 14C radioactivity incorporated into the galactosamine and uronic acid components was 51:49 following preincubation with [14C]glucose. In both experiments the specific radioactivity of the DS-rich hybrids was twice as high as that of the CS-rich hybrids. 3) Enzymatic degradation of the hybrid CS-DS subfractions by chondroitin AC and ABC lyases revealed that the specific radioactivity of the CS and DS disaccharide units released from the DS-rich hybrids was twice as high as those isolated from the CS-rich hybrids, but within each hybrid fraction the galactosamine moieties of the CS and DS units and their glucuronic and iduronic acid components exhibited equal specific radioactivities. 4) The results strongly support the assumption that distinct compartments exist for the formation of hybrid CS-DS proteoglycans with different proportions of CS and DS.

Purification and properties of UDP-glucose galactosylhydroxylysine collagen glucosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.?) from bovine arterial tissue

The glucosyltransferase (UDP-glucose galactosylhydroxylsine collagen glucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.?.) was purified 50-fold from calf arterial tissue by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration and electrofocusing. The purified enzyme has a molecular weight of 72 000 and a requirement for Mn2. It resolves into two activity peaks when submitted to electrofocusing (isoelectric point at pH 4.2 and 8.1) or disc electrophoresis and exhibits a double pH optimum (pH 8.3 and 9.9). The enzyme was found to transfer glucose from UDP-glucose to the denatured forms of citrate-soluble calf skin collagen (I), the alphal chain (II) and the beta12 component (III) derived from it, and of an acetic-acid-souble collagen preparation (IV) obtained from alkali-treated calf arterial tissue. The Km values for the substrates were 1.67 X 10(-4) (I), 6.3 X 10(-4) (II), 3.3 X 10(-4) (III) and 2.8 X 10(-4) mol/l (IV), indicating that the enzyme has the greatest affinity for the calf skin collagen. The glucose transferred to hydroxylysine-linked galactose residues may be released subsequently by the action of a specific alpha-glucosidase purified from bovine spleen. The results support the assumtion that the glucosylation step in the course of the (pro-)-collagen biosynthesis depends on special structural features of the substrate and may be controlled by a specific alpha-glucosidase.

Metabolism of sulfated glycosaminoglycans in cultivated bovine arterial cells. II. Quantitative studies on the uptake of 35SO4-labeled proteoglycans

Cultured arterial fibroblasts were used for a quantitative study on adsorption, uptake and degradation of [35S]proteoglycans derived from secretions of cultured arterial or skin fibroblasts. The following results were obtained: 1) Proteoglycans added to the culture medium are integrated into the pool of cell membrane-associated (trypsin-removable) glycosaminoglycans by a saturable process, which depends on time and temperature. 2) Up to 17% of the added proteoglycans are taken up by the cells within 24 h. The uptake exhibits saturation kinetics, characteristic for adsorptive pinocytosis. Proteoglycan concentrations required for half-maximum uptake are higher than for half-maximum saturation of the glycosaminoglycan pool associated with the cell membrane. 3) After a lag phase, inorganic 35SO4 appears in the culture medium as a degradation product of the internalized proteoglycans. Pinocytosed proteoglycans are catabolized more rapidly than proteoglycans which remain inside the cell after their biosynthesis. 4) Pinocytosis exhibits specificity, the individual proteoglycans being internalized at different rates. The highest rate of uptake was measured for a dermatan-sulfate-rich proteoglycan. No competition of uptake between a dermatan-sulfate-rich and a heparan-sulfate-rich proteoglycan was observed. 5) Optimum pinocytosis requires an intact protein moiety and, presumably, undegraded carbohydrate chains of the proteoglycans.