Characterization of bovine aorta proteoglycan extracted with guanidine hydrochloride in the presence of protease inhibitors

Synthesis and secretion of sulphated glycosaminoglycans by bovine peridontal ligament fibroblast cultures

The cultures were allowed to incorporate 35SO2-4 for various periods of time. 35S-labelled macromolecules were isolated from the medium, a trypsin digest of the cells and the cell residue. Ion-exchange chromatography separated the radioactive polysaccharides into heparan sulphate and a galactosaminoglycan population. Most heparan sulphate was in the trypsin digest and cell residue fractions. The galactosaminoglycan fractions were investigated by differential degradations with chondroitinase ABC and AC and ethanol fractionation. The medium galactosaminoglycans contained both glucuronic and iduronic acid residues and existed in copolymeric structures as chondroitin sulphate/dermatan sulphate hybrid molecules. Dermatan sulphate was also detected. In contrast, the trypsin-digest fraction contained mainly chondroitin sulphate-like molecules.

Investigation of relationships between collagens, elastin and proteoglycans in bovine thoracic aorta by immunofluorescence techniques

Types I, III and V collagens and proteoglycan were localized in the aorta by indirect immunofluorescence techniques. Type I collagen was more prominent in media and adventitia than in intima while type III collagen predominated in intima and media but appeared less significant in adventitia. Type V collagen was observed in intima and media only and was seen surrounding smooth muscle cells. Type I collagen was located between elastic fibres but type III collagen appeared to envelop the fibres, suggesting an interaction between elastic fibres and type III collagen. Pretreatment of sections with testicular hyaluronidase caused no changes in staining for type I collagen, but adventitial areas showed increased staining for type III collagen. After digestion with chondroitinase ABC, intimal and medial areas showed increased staining for type III collagen. Therefore, type III collagen forms stronger interactions with proteoglycans and hyaluronic acid than does type I collagen and type III collagen in adventitia is largely masked by hyaluronic acid, while type III collagen in intima and media is associated with proteoglycan. Thus, type III collagen is a more significant component of adventitia than previously recognized. Proteoglycan was also partly localized along elastic fibres. It is, therefore, suggested that elastic fibres are coated with type III collagen, which itself is coated with proteoglycan.

Partial structure of the active moiety of a lipoprotein complexing proteoglycan from human aorta

Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans of the intima-media extracellular matrix have been stated to play a role in lipoprotein deposition associated with atherogenesis. It is therefore important to characterize the active lipoprotein-complexing moiety of these macromolecular aggregates. We have isolated a soluble proteoglycan aggregate of approximately 5 X 10(6) molecular weight after homogenization of human aortic intima-media in an isosmotic sucrose solution, sequential differential centrifugation, dialysis, exclusion chromatography and preparative electrophoresis. This proteoglycan aggregate, labelled lipoprotein-complexing proteoglycan (LCP), has been previously shown to form specific complexes with low density lipoproteins, either isolated or in sera. Density gradient centrifugation in dissociative conditions of the LCP, cellulose acetate acetate electrophoresis of the subfractions, chondroitinases treatment and high performance liquid chromatography of the unsaturated disaccharides indicated that the glycosaminoglycan moiety was composed of 56% chondroitin-6-SO4, 26% hyaluronate and/or undersulfated chondroitin and 17% chondroitin-4-SO4. In pore-gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the hyaluronate monomer appeared to have a molecular weight of 250000 while that of the chondroitin sulfates ranged between 50000 and 70000 after extensive treatment with protease. The fractions enriched in the chondroitin sulfate monomers were the most reactive towards LDL and their reactivity was abolished by chondroitinase AC indicating that the lipoprotein-complexing capacity of the LCP aggregate is associated to these molecules.

Distribution of proteoglycans and hyaluronic acid in transverse sections of bovine thoracic aorta

The distribution of hyaluronic acid and proteoglycans in bovine thoracic aorta was studied by Alcian Blue staining of frozen tissue sections under controlled electrolyte conditions with and without prior enzymic digestion. Some sections were digested with chondroitinase ABC, testicular hyaluronidase or bacterial collagenase and subsequent staining permitted conclusions to be drawn about the distribution of specific glycosaminoglycans within the tissue. The total glycosaminoglycan content was maximal in the intima and decreased across the arterial wall to the outermost adventitial layer. The content of proteoglycan containing chondroitin sulphate and/or dermatan sulphate chains paralleled this distribution. However, other glycosaminoglycans also contributed significantly to staining, although there was no evidence for any appreciable concentration of heparin or highly sulphated heparan sulphate. Several experiments indicated that proteoglycan containing chondroitin sulphate and/or dermatan sulphate was associated with elastic laminae which were often seen stained along their periphery. Hyaluronic acid was present at significant concentrations in all locations of the aorta and there was evidence for a similar distribution of heparan sulphate which was possible also present at a high concentration in the endothelium. Staining of sections after treatment with 4 M guanidinium chloride confirmed that this extractant removed most of the proteoglycan from the tissue section.

Biosynthesis of proteoglycans by isolated rabbit glomeruli

Isolated rabbit glomeruli were incubated in vitro with 35SO4 in order to analyze the proteoglycans synthesized. Proteoglycans extracted with 4 M guanidine HCl from whole isolated glomeruli and from purified glomerular basement membrane (GBM) were analyzed by gel filtration chromatography. Two types of sulfated proteoglycans were found to be synthesized by rabbit glomeruli and these contained either heparan sulfate or chondroitin/dermatan sulfate glycosaminoglycan chains. These glycosaminoglycans were characterized by their sensitivity to selective degradation by nitrous acid or chondroitinase ABC, respectively. The major proteoglycan extracted from the whole glomeruli was a chondroitin/dermatan sulfate species (75%), while purified GBM contained mostly heparan sulfate (70%). The glycosaminoglycan chains were estimated to be about 12,000 molecular weight which is consistent with previous estimates for similar molecules extracted from the rat GBM.

Glycosaminoglycans and the control of cell surface proteinase activity

It is postulated that the metabolically variable fine structure of pericellular heparan glycosaminoglycans affects the ability of these molecules to influence cell proliferation-associated proteinase-catalysed reactions occurring at cell surfaces. Evidence suggesting the possibility of a wide repertoire of glycosaminoglycan-mediated positive and negative effects on such reactions is reviewed. It is suggested that clinical administration of compounds related chemically to heparins might usefully modulate cell proliferation-associated proteinase activity.

Immunological evidence for two distinct chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan core proteins: differential expression in cartilage matrix deficient mice

The expression and core protein structure of two proteoglycans, the major cartilage proteoglycan isolated from a rat chondrosarcoma and a small molecular weight chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan isolated from a rat yolk sac tumor, have been compared. The cartilage proteoglycan was not detectable in the cartilage tissue of cartilage matrix deficient (cmd/cmd) neonatal mice by immunofluorescence, but the cmd cartilage did react with antibodies against the core protein of the yolk sac tumor proteoglycan. Radioimmunoassays showed that the core proteins of these proteoglycans are not cross-reactive with each other. Analysis of the core proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after chondroitinase ABC treatment of the proteoglycan revealed a large difference in their sizes. The cartilage proteoglycan core protein had a molecular weight of about 200,000 while the yolk sac tumor proteoglycan core protein migrated with an apparent molecular weight of about 20,000. In addition, the cultured yolk sac tumor cells that make the small proteoglycan did not react with antiserum against the cartilage proteoglycan. These results indicate that the proteoglycan isolated from the yolk sac tumor is similar to the small chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan species found in cartilage and support the existence of at least two dissimilar and genetically independent chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan core proteins.

Evidence for a mechanical coupling of glycoprotein microfibrils with collagen fibrils in Wharton's jelly

Wharton's jelly of human umbilical cord is known to contain hyaluronic acid and sulphated glycosaminoglycans (probably as proteoglycans) immobilized in an insoluble collagen fibril network. A secondary, independent, insoluble network based on glycoprotein microfibrils of 13 nm diameter and interpenetrated with the collagen network has now been found in amounts corresponding to 9% of the weight of collagen. Elastin, however, is absent. Tissue slices placed in physiological buffer swell to two-fold their in vivo volume. This is due to the influence of the polysaccharides since treatment with either testicular hyaluronidase, Streptomyces hyaluronidase or chondroitinase ABC, causes their quantitative removal and abolishes the swelling tendency of tissue. Tissue so treated remains close to its in vivo volume indicating that for this state the fibrillar network, overall, is in its relaxed unstressed configuration. Subsequent treatment with a protease causes the degradation of the glycoprotein microfibril network and a two-fold increase in tissue volume while treatment with bacterial collagenase, resulting in the solubilization of 46% of the collagen, causes only a slight deswelling. These results suggest that the unstressed configuration of the network system at the in vivo volume of tissue is due to the collagen network being held in compression by the microfibril network. With intact tissue protease digestion with trypsin, in addition, causes a preferential release of sulphated glycosaminoglycans. Hyaluronic acid, however, remains largely immobilized.

The structural characterization of proteoglycans of cultured aortic smooth muscle cells and arterial wall of the pig

Aortic proteoglycans, from the growth medium of cultured smooth muscle cells and from sequential associative and dissociative extracts of the tissue of origin, the pig aorta, were isolated and purified by precipitation with cetylpiridinium chloride. After isopycnic CsCl gradient centrifugation under associative conditions 94% of the cell-secreted proteoglycans were recuperated in the bottom one fifth (rho av = 1.62 g/ml) fraction. In contrast 80% of the tissue proteoglycans of both extracts, fractionated into two fractions: the bottom one fifth (rho av = 1.60 g/ml) fraction and three fifths (rho av = 1.42 g/ml) fraction. Fractionated tissue proteoglycans were composed predominantly of chondroitin sulfate-dermatan sulfate (83-90%) with lower proportions of heparan sulfate (5-11%) and hyaluronic acid (3-6%) whilst cell-secreted proteoglycans showed a similar glycosaminoglycan composition but with a higher proportion of hyaluronic acid (11-13%). Sepharose 2B and C1-2B chromatography of tissue proteoglycans of high buoyant density showed the presence of only subunit proteoglycans whilst those of intermediate density contained a complex species, partially dissociable in 4 M guanidinium chloride, along with Kav 0.50 subunit species. The latter was also observed for cell-secreted proteoglycans although obtained at high buoyant density. The cell-secreted subunit proteoglycans became separated into two distinct populations when chromatographed on Sepharose 4B and C1-4B, half of which eluted in the column Vo and the rest at a Kav of 0.34. The majority of subunit macromolecules eluted at the Vo fractions of Sepharose 6B and C1-6B columns. Unlike the major species of cartilage proteoglycans, only approx. 20% of purified arterial proteoglycans formed complexes. This proportion could be increased by only 4-7% by interaction, of a mixture of subunit cell-secreted and tissue-extracted proteoglycans, with hyaluronic acid. These results suggest that proteoglycans secreted by cultured aortic smooth muscle cells and present in the aortic tissue possess certain similar physicochemical properties and are present in the form of complex and several subunit species.

High molecular weight proteoglycans biosynthesized in culture by pigeon aortas

The properties of aortic proteoglycans synthesized in vitro were examined to demonstrate synthesis of intact proteoglycans by aortic tissue in culture and to compare labeling and synthetic rates of two different populations of proteoglycan. Following 3, 6, or 9 h of incubation in medium containing [35S]sodium sulfate and [3H]serine, the tissue was extracted with 4.0 M guanidine hydrochloride containing protease inhibitors. Extracts were chromatographed on Sepharose CL-4B and subjected to buoyant density centrifugation under dissociative conditions. Radioactive precursors were incorporated into two major populations of aortic proteoglycan, one of high molecular weight eluting near the void volume of Sepharose CL-4B (Proteoglycan I) and one of lower molecular weight (Proteoglycan II) having a Kav of 0.40-0.44. The radioactively labeled proteoglycans were localized at densities 1.50-1.56 g/ml (Preparation 1) and 1.43-1.49 g/ml (Preparation 2) following CsCl buoyant density centrifugation. Both proteoglycan populations had increased incorporation of 35S and 3H over time. At all times the lower molecular weight proteoglycan had a higher specific activity (dpm 35S and 3H/micrograms hexuronic acid). At 3, 6, and 9 h, the specific activity of Proteoglycan II was 8.2-, 6.7- and 3.0-fold higher than Proteoglycan I using 35S and 13.0-, 8.1- and 2.7-fold higher using 3H, suggesting different synthetic rates for the two proteoglycans. The results illustrate synthesis of intact proteoglycans during short-term artery culture. The proteoglycan types have size and buoyant density characteristics as described for artery, but based upon changes in specific activity ratios, the two proteoglycan populations differ in rates of synthesis.

Immunological methods for the detection and determination of connective tissue proteoglycans

In this paper we report the use of immunological methods for specifically detecting and determining proteoglycan in cartilage and other connective tissues. Antibodies (polyclonal and monoclonal) have been raised against specific components of cartilage proteoglycan aggregates (i.e., proteoglycan monomer and link protein). Radioimmunoassay procedures and immunohistochemical procedures have been developed and used to demonstrate the occurrence of cartilage-like proteoglycan and link protein in bovine aorta. Similarly, immunofluorescent studies have been used to analyze proteoglycan distribution in skin. Using antibodies specific for chondroitin-4-sulfated proteoglycan, their presence was demonstrated in dermal connective tissue and connective tissue surrounding nerve and muscle sheaths. However, chondroitin-4-sulfated proteoglycan was completely absent in the epidermis of skin and areas surrounding invaginating hair follicles. These immunological procedures are currently being used to complement conventional biochemical analyses of proteoglycans found in different connective tissue matrices.

Keratan sulfate proteoglycan isolated from the estrogen-induced medullary bone in Japanese quail

1. Two proteoglycans isolated from the femurs of quail actively producing medullary bone were separated using DEAE Bio-Gel A. 2. The first to elute in the gradient was a keratan sulfate proteoglycan with an average buoyant density of 1.53 g/ml and a Kav = 0.57 on Sepharose CL-4B. 3. The second proteoglycan to elute contained chondroitin 4-sulfate. 4. Apparently only the keratan sulfate proteoglycan is associated with the new medullary bone matrix.

Circumscribed myxoedema of lichen myxoedematosus as a sign of faulty formation of the proteoglycan macromolecule

Using a new method devised by our laboratory, the ultrastructure of dermal glycosaminoglycan in an involved area of lichen myxoedematosus was examined. Although histochemical and biochemical studies have indicated simply an accumulated deposition of hyaluronic acid in the lesion, the glycosaminoglycan ultrastructure within it was distinctly different from that in normal skin. The glycosaminoglycan structure of normal skin was similar to the proteoglycan aggregate model described by Rosenberg (1975). As confirmed by the enzymatic digestion procedure, it represents the ultrastructure of hyaluronic acid bound to glycosaminoglycans such as dermatan sulphate or chondroitin sulphate. In contrast, hyaluronic acid filaments observed in lesions of lichen myxoedematosus contained no glycosaminoglycan subunits.

Connective tissue components of the normal and fibrotic liver. I. Structure, local distribution and metabolism of connective tissue components in the normal liver and changes in chronic liver diseases

The first part of this review describes the chemistry, the occurrence and the metabolism of extracellular connective tissue components in the liver. The normal liver contains typical connective tissue proteins (collagens, structural glycoproteins and proteoglycans) not only in vessel walls, perivascular areas and in the capsule, but they occur also in small amounts in the parenchyma, mainly in the space of Disse along the sinusoidal walls. The "interstitial" collagens type I and III represent the major amount of collagen in the normal as well as in fibrotic liver, showing a relative increase of type III in fibrosis. Basement membrane collagens type IV and V as well as the cysteine-rich collagenous components "7 S collagen" and "short chain collagen" have been shown to occur in extracts prepared after limited pepsin digestion. In the normal liver, basement membrane collagen can hardly be detected within the parenchyma by immunofluorescence microscopy; increased occurrence, however, can be shown along the sinusoids even in early stages of chronic liver diseases. The glycoprotein fibronectin was shown to be distributed very similarly to collagens type I and III, whereas the basement membrane specific glycoprotein laminin is restricted to vessel walls and the epithelial layer of bile ductuli in the normal liver but is also found in the parenchyma in fibrosis. Occurrence of proteoglycans is increased in fibrosis: a change in the composition of glycosaminoglycans from mainly heparan sulfate in the normal to dermatan- and chondroitin sulfate in the fibrotic liver was observed. It is not yet clear which cell type is mainly responsible for increased connective tissue synthesis in fibrosis. The occurrence of cells resembling smooth muscle cells ("myofibroblasts") in connective tissue septa of fibrotic livers and the fact that similar cells which actively synthesize collagen grow from explants of fibrotic livers may indicate the significance of this cell type in the process of liver fibrosis.

Aortic glycosaminoglycans in genetically selected WC-2 pigeons with increased atherosclerosis susceptibility

A genetically selected line of White Carneau pigeons (WC-2) was studied in an attempt to relate changes in composition and content of aortic glycosaminoglycan (GAG) to increased atherosclerosis susceptibility. The WC-2 pigeons were fed an atherogenic diet for 3 months and, when compared to randomly bred White Carneau (RBWC) controls, they showed similar plasma cholesterol concentrations but significantly greater aortic atherosclerosis. In the WC-2 pigeons, 35% of the aortic surface was covered with plaque compared with only 12% in RBWC pigeons; WC-2 birds showed cholesterol contents of 3.3 mg/aorta/500 g body weight, while the RBWC birds had only 0.9 mg/aorta/500 g body weight. After papain treatment of delipidated dried artery, the aortic GAG were isolated, purified using cetylpyridinium chloride, and identified and quantitated by a combination of procedure including selective enzymatic digestion and electrophoresis. In both pigeon groups, aortic GAG included 8% hyaluronic acid, 11% dermatan sulfate, 15% heparan sulfate, and 66% chondroitin sulfate. For the entire group, total aortic GAG content was 35% greater in WC-2 pigeons. Since we did not know if this increase in GAG was simply due to increased atherosclerosis in the WC-2 birds, we sorted the pigeons into matched groups representing minimal, moderate, and severe atherosclerosis on the basis of aortic cholesterol content. At all levels of cholesterol, all GAG contents were greater in the aortas of WC-2 pigeons. The accumulation of dermatan sulfate was 30% higher than in RBWC birds in the minimal arteriosclerosis group, 101% higher in the moderate group, and 53% higher in the severe group. Hyaluronic acid tended to decrease as aortic cholesterol contents increased in WC-2 pigeons. Reduced hyaluronic acid and increase dermatan sulfate may suggest the presence of an altered hyaluronic acid-dermatan sulfate-containing proteoglycan aggregate in the intercellular matrix of the WC-2 pigeon aorta. Possible consequences include increased artery permeability and a binding and retention of lipoproteins in the artery wall. These factors may explain why atherosclerosis develops at an increased rate in the WC-2 pigeon.

Glycosaminoglycans of human gingival epithelium and connective tissue

The glycosaminoglycan (GAG) components of the proteoglycans (PG) in the epithelial and connective tissue extracellular compartments of human gingivae have been determined. Following proteolytic digestion of the separated tissues. GAG were identified electrophoretically. These were hyaluronic acid (HA), heparan sulfate (HS), dermatan sulfate (DS) and chondroitin-4 sulfate (ChS-4). Neither ChS-6 nor keratan sulfate (KS) was observed. Confirmation of the nature of the molecular species was obtained by the use of Streptomyces hyaluronidase, chondroitinase AC II and degradation with nitrous acid. Quantitatively, the major GAG component of the epithelial specimens was HS (59.6%), whilst DS (60.6%) constituted the major GAG of human gingival connective tissue.

Delayed formation of proteoglycan aggregate structures in human articular cartilage disease states

Proteoglycans are major components of many extracellular matrices. In cartilage, they provide reversible resistance to compression and exist as molecules with molecular weights (MWs) of 1-3 x 10(6). There is a central protein core of MWs approximately 2 x 10(5) (refs 1, 2) with specialized subregions, one containing mainly the chondroitin sulphate chains, another most of the keratan sulphate chains, and a third is a largely globular structure interacting specifically with both hyaluronic acid and a link protein to form stable aggregate structures such as those identified in human articular cartilage. In embryonic and tissue culture systems, proteoglycans are isolated as aggregate structures in as little as 5--10 min after synthesis (sulphation) with no nonaggregating precursor detected. However, Heinegärd and Hascall have characterized the small proportion of nonaggregating proteoglycan present in bovine nasal septum cartilage and found that it contained more peptide than the aggregating proteoglycan. Work by Upholt et al. has suggested that the MW of unprocessed protein core, synthesized by a wheat-germ translating system from chick sternal cartilage mRNA, is approximately 340,000, leaving open the possibility of intermediates. I report here the presence, in some human cartilages, of a proteoglycan population that initially will not aggregate with the hyaluronic acid but subsequently can be chased into aggregate.

Determination of mulecular-weight distribution of aorta glycosaminoglycans by automated gel filtration

This report describes an automated gel filtration procedure for estimation of molecular weights of glycosaminoglycans using Technicon sugar analyzer. A Sepharose CL-6B column was used for filtration. The method has been applied to determining the distribution of molecular weights of glycosaminoglycans from human aorta. The glycosaminoglycans were fractionated on a Dowex 1 (Cl-) column prior to gel filtration. On gel filtration, hyaluronic acid resolved into two components with estimated molecular weights of 38,000 and 8000. A molecular weight of 22,000 was estimated for heparan sulfate. Chondroitin 6-sulfate and dermatan sulfate eluted from the column in one peak, suggesting these two glycosaminoglycans have a similar molecular weight, 18,000. The procedure was found suitable for studying the gel filtration behavior of proteoglycans from bovine aorta and lung.

A comparative study of proteoglycans from bovine lung, trachea, tracheal mucosa, and aorta

Proteoglycans were isolated from bovine lung, trachea, tracheal mucosa, and aorta by dissociative extraction with 4M guanidinium hydrochloride. Fractionation of these tissue extracts by cesium chloride density centrifugation and gel chromatography allowed the isolation from each extract of a high molecular weight fraction consisting mainly of proteochondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid.

A rapid method of isolation and fractionation of proteoglycans using a vertical tube rotor for isopycnic centrifugation

A comparison was made between a vertical tube rotor and a fixed angle rotor for isopycnic centrifugation of proteoglycans. In the vertical tube rotor, isopycnic gradient was achieved much faster than in the conventional fixed angle rotor. The use of a vertical tube rotor for isopycnic centrifugation shortens the time considerably for the isolation of proteoglycans from various tissues.