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Kostrominova TY. Application of WGA lectin staining for visualization of the connective tissue in skeletal muscle, bone, and ligament/tendon studies. Microsc Res Tech 2011; 74:18-22. [PMID: 21181705 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.20865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
During immunostaining of specific proteins in tissue sections using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, visualization of general tissue staining/background or major structural features is helpful to pinpoint precise localization of the protein of interest. Often in skeletal muscle research, immunostaining with antibodies against connective tissue or plasma membrane proteins (collagen 1, laminin, and caveolin 3) are used for this purpose. Although immunostaining for these proteins works well, it is time consuming, costly, limits the number of antibodies against protein of interest that can be used on a single section, and is not applicable to some staining techniques. Lectins were frequently used in earlier publications for skeletal muscle fiber boundaries and connective tissue visualization, but are not common in the current research studies. This work investigates costaining of muscle, bone, ligament, and tendon tissue sections with fluorescently tagged wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) lectin as a tool for the visualization of connective tissue. The results of this study show that fluorescent WGA lectin costaining is a cost-effective, fast, and convenient method for connective tissue visualization, especially in the studies where extensive washes reduce staining of the structures that are the primary interest of the investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Y Kostrominova
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine-Northwest, Gary, Indiana 46409-1008.
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Toegel S, Pabst M, Wu SQ, Grass J, Goldring MB, Chiari C, Kolb A, Altmann F, Viernstein H, Unger FM. Phenotype-related differential alpha-2,6- or alpha-2,3-sialylation of glycoprotein N-glycans in human chondrocytes. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2010; 18:240-8. [PMID: 19800998 PMCID: PMC2818349 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2009.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2009] [Revised: 08/18/2009] [Accepted: 09/09/2009] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sialic acids frequently occur at the terminal positions of glycoprotein N-glycans present at chondrocyte surfaces or in the cartilage matrix. Sialic acids are transferred to glycoproteins in either alpha-2,3 or alpha-2,6 linkage by specific sialyltransferases (SiaTs) and can potentially affect cell functions and cell-matrix interactions. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between the expression of the human chondrocyte phenotype and the sialylation of chondrocyte glycoprotein N-glycans. METHODS The transcription of 5 SiaT was quantified using real-time Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. N-glycan analysis was performed using LC-ESI-MS. Primary human chondrocytes were cultured in monolayer or alginate beads and compared to the chondrocyte cell lines C-28/I2 and SW1353. In addition, effects of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) or tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on primary cells were assessed. RESULTS Primary human chondrocytes predominantly express alpha-2,6-specific SiaTs and accordingly, alpha-2,6-linked sialic acid residues in glycoprotein N-glycans. In contrast, the preponderance of alpha-2,3-linked sialyl residues and, correspondingly, reduced levels of alpha-2,6-specific SiaTs are associated with the altered chondrocyte phenotype of C-28/I2 and SW1353 cells. Importantly, a considerable shift towards alpha-2,3-linked sialic acids and alpha-2,3-specific SiaT mRNA levels occurred in primary chondrocytes treated with IL-1beta or tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). CONCLUSION The expression of the differentiated chondrocyte phenotype is linked to the ratio of alpha-2,6- to alpha-2,3-linked sialic acids in chondrocyte glycoprotein N-glycans. A shift towards altered sialylation might contribute to impaired cell-matrix interactions in disease conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Toegel
- Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria,Laboratory for Cartilage Biology, Research Division, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA,Corresponding author Stefan Toegel, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria, Tel: 0043 1 4277 55461, Fax: 0043 1 4277 9554,
| | - M Pabst
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - SQ Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - J Grass
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - MB Goldring
- Laboratory for Cartilage Biology, Research Division, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA
| | - C Chiari
- Department of Orthopedics, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Kolb
- Department of Orthopedics, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - F Altmann
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - H Viernstein
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - FM Unger
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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