Rates of glycosaminoglycan synthesis and rates of incorporation of radioactive precursors into newly synthesized glycosaminoglycan by confluent rat muscle fibroblasts

Development of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) scaffold-impregnated small intestinal submucosa with pores that stimulate extracellular matrix production in disc regeneration

The pore size and microstructure of scaffolds influences cell attachment, migration, proliferation and ingrowth, but the optimal pore size of scaffolds for disc tissue formation is not clearly understood. We developed porous poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) scaffolds with various pore sizes for nucleus pulposus (NP) cell cultures and examined the effects of pore size on cell ingrowth and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis. High cell density in the small pores of scaffolds promotes collagen synthesis and cell migration through interconnected pores. Scaffolds with large pores exhibited slower cell proliferation and collagen synthesis. Guided by these results, we investigated a novel, biodegradable, synthetic/natural hybrid scaffold composed of PLGA and small intestinal submucosa (SIS) (PLGA-SIS) with the proper pore size for NP regeneration. We tested the morphological and physical properties of PLGA-SIS scaffolds and initial cell attachment and ECM production of NP in scaffolds. The mechanical and degradable properties of the PLGA-SIS scaffold were superior to those of SIS sponge and were similar to the properties of PLGA scaffold. NP cells grown on PLGA-SIS scaffold exhibited higher initial cell adhesion and ECM production than those grown on pure PLGA scaffold in a biological assay. In conclusion, this study suggests that a proper pore size of scaffolds is critical in NP regeneration, and that PLGA-SIS scaffolds with suitable pores might be useful as substrates for tissue-engineered biodiscs.

Biological evaluation of a series of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose analogs towards cellular glycosaminoglycan and protein synthesis in vitro

Using primary hepatocytes in culture, various 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose (GlcNAc) analogs were examined for their effects on the incorporation of D-[3H]glucosamine, [35S]sulfate, and L-[14C]leucine into cellular glycoconjugates. A series of acetylated GlcNAc analogs, namely methyl 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-alpha-(3) and beta-D-glucopyranoside (4) and 2-acetamido-1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose (5), exhibited a concentration-dependent reduction of D-[3H]glucosamine, but not of [35S]sulfate incorporation into isolated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), without affecting L-[14C]leucine incorporation into total protein synthesis. These results suggest that analogs 3-5 exhibit an inhibitory effect on D-[3H]glucosamine incorporation into isolated GAGs by diluting the specific activity of cellular D-[3H]glucosamine and by competing for the same metabolic pathways. In the case of the corresponding series of 4-deoxy-GlcNAc analogs, namely methyl 2-acetamido-3,6-di-O-acetyl-2,4-dideoxy-alpha-(6) and beta-D-xylo-hexopyranoside (7) and 2-acetamido-1,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-2,4-dideoxy-D-xylo-hexopyranose (8), compound 8 at 1.0 mM exhibited the greatest reduction of D-[3H]glucosamine and [35S]sulfate incorporation into isolated GAGs, namely to approximately 7% of controls, and a moderate inhibition of total protein synthesis, namely to 60% of controls. Exogenous uridine was able to restore the inhibition of total protein synthesis by compound 8 at 1.0 mM. Isolated GAGs from cultures treated with compound 8 were shown to be smaller in size (approximately 40 kDa) than for control cultures (approximately 77 kDa). These results suggest that the inhibitory effects of compound 8 on cellular GAG synthesis may be mediated by the incorporation of a 4-deoxy moiety into GAGs resulting in premature chain termination and/or by its serving as an enzymatic inhibitor of the normal sugar metabolites. The inhibition of total protein synthesis from cultures treated with compound 8 suggests a uridine trapping mechanism which would result in the depletion of UTP pools and cause the inhibition of total protein synthesis. A 1-deoxy-GlcNAc analog, namely 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-1,5-anhydro-2-deoxy-D-glucitol (9), also exhibited a reduction in both D-[3H]glucosamine and [35S]sulfate incorporation into isolated GAGs by 19 and 57%, of the control cells, respectively, at 1.0 mM without affecting total protein synthesis. The inability of compound 9 to form a UDP-sugar and, hence, be incorporated into GAGs presents another metabolic route for the inhibition of cellular GAG synthesis. Potential metabolic routes for each analog's effects are presented.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a radiolabeled analog of methyl 2-acetamido-2,4-dideoxy-beta-D-xylo-hexopyranoside directed towards influencing cellular glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis

Two methods are presented for the synthesis of methyl 2-acetamido-2,4-dideoxy-beta-D-xylo-hexopyranoside. The first method employs the Barton-McCombie deoxygenation methodology, and the second method utilizes an oxidation-beta-elimination methodology that allows for the incorporation of hydrogen isotopes into the title compound. Hence, methyl 2-acetamido-2,4-dideoxy-beta-D-xylo-hexopyranoside (4) and methyl 2-acetamido-2,4-dideoxy-beta-D-xylo-hexopyranoside-6-t (14) were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit hepatocyte, cell-surface glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis and to incorporate a [(3)H] radiolabel into isolated glycosaminoglycans, respectively. Compound 4, at a concentration of 1.0 mM, demonstrated a reduction of D-[(3)H]glucosamine and [(35)S]sulfate incorporation into isolated glycosaminoglycans by 69 and 59%, of the control cultures, respectively. At 10 and 20 mM, 4 demonstrated a maximum inhibition of incorporation of both radiolabels to approximately 10% of the control cultures. Compound 14 demonstrated a maximum incorporation of a [(3)H] radiolabel into isolated cell-surface glycosaminoglycans at 10 and 20 mM. The mechanism of inhibition of glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis is due, in part, to the incorporation of a 4-deoxy moiety into glycosaminoglycan chains resulting in premature chain termination.

Synthesis of 4-deoxy-4-fluoro analogues of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose and their effects on cellular glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis

4-Deoxy-4-fluoro analogues of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of hepatic glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis. 2-Acetamido-1,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-2,4-dideoxy-4-fluoro-D-glucopyranose (16) exhibited a reduction of [3H]GlcN and [35S]SO4 incorporation into hepatocyte cellular glycosaminoglycans to 12 and 18%, respectively, of the control cells, at 1.0 mM. Similarly, 2-acetamido-1,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-2,4-dideoxy-4-fluoro-D-galactopyranose (31) exhibited a reduction of [3H]GlcN and [35S]SO4 incorporation to 1 and 9%, respectively, of the control cells, at 1.0 mM. Unlike 16, 31 exhibited a reduction of [14C]Leu incorporation into cellular protein to 57% of control cells, at 1.0 mM.

Functional cloning of the cDNA for a human hyaluronan synthase

Hyaluronan is a constituent of the extracellular matrix of connective tissue and is actively synthesized during wound healing and tissue repair to provide a framework for ingrowth of blood vessels and fibroblasts. Changes in the serum concentration of hyaluronan are associated with inflammatory and degenerative arthropathies such as rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, hyaluronan has been implicated as an important substrate for migration of adhesion of leukocytes during inflammation. A human hyaluronan synthase (HuHAS1) cDNA was isolated by a functional expression cloning approach. Transfection of CHO cells conferred hyaluronidase-sensitive adhesiveness of a mucosal T cell line via the lymphocyte hyaluronan receptor, CD44, as well as increased hyaluronan levels in the cultures of transfected cells. The HuHAS1 amino acid sequence shows considerable homology to the hasA gene product of Streptococcus pyogenes, a glycosaminoglycan synthetase from Xenopus laevis (DG42), and is the human homolog of a recently described murine hyaluronan synthase.

Exogenous glycosaminoglycans (GAG) differentially modulate GAG synthesis by anchorage-independent cultures of the outer cells from neonatal rat calvaria in the absence and presence of TGF-beta

In anchorage-dependent (AD) cultures of the outer cell population (OCP) from neonatal rat calvaria, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta) specifically upregulated the synthesis of chondroitin sulfate (CS) proteoglycan (PG) and uncoupled the inhibitory effect of increasing cell density on CS PG synthesis (reference #30). Utilizing the same cell population, we have further examined the possibility that glycosaminoglycans (GAG) known to be synthesized and secreted by bone cells might exert feedback effects on GAG synthesis and/or its stimulation by TGF-beta. Although addition of TGF-beta alone stimulated net synthesis of HA and CS in both AD and anchorage-independent (AI) cultures, significant alterations of basal and TGF-beta-stimulated GAG synthesis by exogenous GAGs were observed only in AI cultures. In AI cultures exogenously added hyaluronic acid (HA) markedly enhanced the basal synthesis of HA and CS while heparin (H) suppressed the basal synthesis of HA, CS as well as dermatan sulfate (DS). Also, the addition of HA markedly potentiated the stimulation by TGF-beta of HA and CS synthesis as did heparan sulfate (HS) for CS and DS synthesis. H suppressed the stimulation of the synthesis of HA, CS and DS by TGF-beta. Overall, our results indicate specific effects of individual GAGs on basal and TGF-beta-stimulated GAG synthesis in OCP cultures. We suggest that some of the GAGs in the OCP microenvironment (which with the exception of HA are covalently linked to protein cores of secreted PGs), acting in concert with TGF-beta, may serve as an amplification system for upregulating GAG synthesis in the rapidly growing neonatal calvarium.

Influence of monosaccharide derivatives on liver cell glycosaminoglycan synthesis: 3-deoxy-D-xylo-hexose (3-deoxy-D-galactose) and methyl (methyl 4-chloro-4-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranosid) uronate

An improved, convenient synthesis of 3-deoxy-D-xylo-hexose (3-deoxy-D-galactose) has been developed, and the chemical synthesis of a novel monosaccharide derivative, methyl (methyl 4-chloro-4-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranosid)uronate (compound 10), is described. Using primary hepatocytes in culture, each was used to explore its effect on glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis. In the absence of analogues hepatocytes synthesize primarily (92-95%) heparan sulphate. At 1 mM, 3-deoxy-D-galactose had little observable effect on either liver cell GAG or protein synthesis. At 10 mM and 20 mM, 3-deoxy-D-galactose reduced [3H]glucosamine and 35SO4 incorporation into hepatocyte cellular GAGs to, respectively, 75% and 60% of the control cells. This inhibition of GAG synthesis occurred without any effect on hepatocyte protein synthesis, indicating that 3-deoxy-D-galactose's effect on GAG synthesis is not mediated through an inhibition of proteoglycan core protein synthesis. Furthermore, GAGs in the presence of 20 mM of the analogue were significantly reduced in size, 17 kDa vs. 66 kDa in untreated cells. These results reflect either impaired cellular GAG chain elongation, and/or altered GAG chain degradation. Compound 10 exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibition of both hepatocyte cellular GAG and protein synthesis. At concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 mM, compound 10 inhibited GAG and protein synthesis by 20, 65 and 90%, respectively. Exogenous uridine was able to restore partially the inhibition of protein synthesis, but was unable to reverse the effect of compound 10 on GAG synthesis. These results show that part of the effect of compound 10 on GAG synthesis is not mediated by an inhibition of proteoglycan core protein synthesis. GAGs in the presence of compound 10 are half as large as those in the absence of this compound (33 and 66 kDa, respectively). These results again may reflect either impaired cellular GAG chain elongation and/or altered GAG chain degradation. Potential metabolic routes for each analogue's effect are presented.

Intracellular signal transduction for serum activation of the hyaluronan synthase in eukaryotic cell lines

Hyaluronan synthase was activated in B6 cells or 3T3 fibroblasts by foetal calf serum with maximal activity after 6 h. Activation was inhibited by cycloheximide or by the protein kinase inhibitors H-7 or H-8, indicating that transcription as well as phosphorylation was required for activation. The activation by serum was markedly prolonged, when serum was added together with cholera toxin or theophylline. Without serum stimulation the hyaluronan synthase could also be activated by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, by dibutyryl-c-AMP, or by forskolin. Increasing the intracellular Ca-ion concentration with a Ca-ionophore also led to an activation. The activation of the drugs was not synergistic. In isolated plasma membranes the synthase activity could be decreased by phosphatase treatment and enhanced by ATP in B6 cells and by ATP in the presence of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate in 3T3 fibroblasts. Stimulation correlated with increased transcription and phosphorylation of the 52 kD hyaluronan synthase at serine residues. The results led to the conclusion that hyaluronan synthase is induced by transcription and activated by phosphorylation by protein kinase C, c-AMP-dependent protein kinases, or Ca-ion-dependent protein kinases.

Effects of 4-deoxy-L-threo-pentose, a novel carbohydrate, on neural cell proteoglycan synthesis and function

A novel carbohydrate, 4-deoxy-L-threo-pentose (4-deoxyxylose), was synthesized by way of reductive dechlorination of a chlorodeoxy sugar. This carbohydrate, an analogue of xylose which is required for the initiation of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis, was used to explore the function of GAG side chains in neurite outgrowth on a laminin substrate. 4-Deoxyxylose inhibited the incorporation of 35SO4 into the GAGs of neuronal and astrocytic proteoglycans, with no effect being seen on the incorporation of [3H]glucosamine into proteoglycan. Direct analysis of the heparan sulphate fraction from such cells using nitrous acid digestion confirmed that the GAGs were undersulphated. No inhibition of either 35SO4 or [3H]glucosamine incorporation was observed in primary mouse hepatocytes exposed to 4-deoxyxylose. 4-Deoxyxylose produced a direct dose-dependent inhibition of neurite outgrowth by sensory neurons, and medium conditioned by neurons or astrocytes in the presence of 4-deoxyxylose displayed less laminin-complexed neurite-promoting activity than medium conditioned in its absence. These data suggest that 4-deoxyxylose inhibits neurite outgrowth by altering the sulphation of the GAGs of heparan sulphate proteoglycans.

Altered proteoglycan synthesis via the false acceptor pathway can be dissociated from beta-D-xyloside inhibition of proliferation

beta-D-Xylosides have been used to perturb proteoglycan (PG) synthesis to elucidate the function of PGs in a number of cellular processes, including proliferation, migration, and differentiation. This study was designed to examine whether specific xylosides affect the proliferation of several different cell types and, if so, whether this effect is dependent on altered PG synthesis via the false acceptor pathway. Both methylumbelliferyl beta-D-xylopyranoside and p-nitrophenyl beta-D-xylopyranoside (PNP beta-xyloside) inhibit cell proliferation and modulate PG synthesis; however, the alpha form of PNP xyloside which does not perturb PG synthesis inhibits the proliferation of cultured cells on a molar basis equally as well as the beta form. Conversely, beta-methyl xylopyranoside stimulates the synthesis of free glycosaminoglycan chains equally as well as PNP beta-xyloside and yet has no measurable effect on cell proliferation at comparable doses, indicating that cells can grow normally while experiencing disruption of their proteoglycan metabolism. At doses ranging from 0.5 to 5 mM, PNP beta-xyloside arrests cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle at the same time point as serum starvation. It also delays the exist of cycling cells from the S phase. This treatment is not cytotoxic and is rapidly reversed by the replacement of PNP beta-xyloside containing medium with control medium. Dimethyl sulfoxide, the most commonly used solvent for beta-xyloside in proteoglycan studies, potentiates the inhibitory effect of PNP beta-xyloside on cell proliferation. These results indicate that the perturbation of PG synthesis via the false acceptor pathway can be uncoupled from control of cell proliferation.

Nonspecific interaction of proteoglycans with chromatography media and surfaces: effect of this interaction on the isolation efficiencies

Nonspecific adsorption of proteoglycans to chromatography media and surfaces is demonstrated. This adsorption is highly dependent on the nature of the chromatography media and the precise buffer conditions. For a given buffer the amount of adsorption decreases as the pH of the buffer is increased. It is also highly dependent on buffer concentration and increases as the buffer concentration is increased. The effect of salts such as LiCl, NaCl, KCl, and MgCl2 was generally small and complex so that the presence of the salt both increased and decreased the amount of adsorption depending on the buffer conditions. In contrast, the effect due to the presence of guanidine hydrochloride (Gdn-HCl) was relatively large and complex. At low Gdn-HCl concentrations there generally was a large increase in the amount of adsorption, reaching a maximum at approximately 0.5 M Gdn-HCl and decreasing with further increases in Gdn-HCl concentration. Detergents such as 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (Chaps) and sodium dodecylsulfate generally reduced the amount of nonspecific adsorption, although in the presence of both the detergent and Gdn-HCl, the effect due to Gdn-HCl predominated. In commonly used buffers such as 0.5 M sodium acetate (NaOAc), pH 7.0 (buffer F), and 4 M Gdn-HCl in 0.05 M NaOAc, pH 5.8 (buffer D), adsorption to surfaces and chromatography media such as Sepharose CL-2B, cellulose, and controlled pore glass (CPG) is highly significant and it is particularly large for cellulose and CPG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Non-specific interaction of proteoglycans with surfaces and matrices

Evidence is presented that reversible non-specific adsorption of proteoglycans (PGs) to surfaces and matrices is an inherent property of the PGs. This adsorption is dependent on the intact PG structure as the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which are isolated after papain digestion of the PG show no such non-specific adsorption. The interaction of the PG with surfaces and matrices is also highly dependent on the internal milieu and can be both inhibited and enhanced by such factors as the ionic composition and concentration, pH, detergents and chaotropic reagents such as guanidine hydrochloride (Gdn-HC1). It is suggested that this inherent stickiness of the PGs allows them to function like a reversible fluid adhesant in the connective tissues. This weak binding force thus not only aids in maintaining the integrity of the connective tissues, but its reversible nature may provide for easy movement of other materials through the connective tissue matrix.

Glycosaminoglycans of the rat renomedullary interstitium: ultrastructural and biochemical observations

The rat renal papillary interstitum which contains abundant proteoglycans is a unique area important in renal function. These proteoglycans were studied ultrastructurally by ruthenium red fixation and staining and phosphate-buffered fixation before and after enzyme digestion. A tissue culture of rat renomedullary interstitial cells, the predominant cell of the renal papillary interstitum, was studied for its ability to synthesize proteoglycans and the proteoglycans were then analyzed. Tissue slices of whole rat renal inner medulla were also evaluated for their synthetic ability. In combination, these studies indicate that the dominant glycosaminoglycan is hyaluronic acid. The tissue culture of rat renal medullary interstitial cells synthesized glycosaminoglycans and on analysis, hyaluronic acid was found to be the chief glycosaminoglycan secreted by the renomedullary interstitial cells. Combined with the removal of the proteoglycans from tissue by leech hyaluronidase and testicular hyaluronidase, this suggests that the dominant glycosaminoglycan is hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is also synthesized by the intact papilla confirming the findings with the tissue culture. However, in addition, sulfated glycosaminoglycans were also synthesized by the intact papilla, presumably the product of the noninterstitial components of the papilla.

Detection and quantitation of proteoglycans extracted from cell culture medium and cultured cartilage slices

Detection and quantitation of extracted proteoglycans, by staining with the dye Alcian blue on cellulose acetate followed by dissolution of the stained cellulose acetate strips in dimethyl sulfoxide containing 0.5% (v/v) sulfuric acid for absorbance measurement, is described. It is shown that, in the present system, the dye uptake by the proteoglycan is dependent only on the glycosaminoglycan content of the proteoglycan. The method is applied to the quantitation and characterization of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans, which have been extracted from radiolabeled bovine ankle cartilage and from mononuclear cell supernatant and which have been separated by DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography. The high sensitivity of the method allows detection of proteoglycans in 25-microliters samples of solutions containing as little as 1 microgram of glycosaminoglycan per milliliter of solution.

Comparison of the stimulation of glycosaminoglycan synthesis in cultures of mononuclear cells from blood and of fibroblastic cells

A small molecular weight factor, derived from bovine bone ('matrigenin'), stimulated glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan synthesis of cultured human fibroblastic cells but not of mononuclear cells from human blood. However, proteoglycan synthesis and secretion by the mononuclear cells was stimulated by the addition of concanavalin A. The proteoglycan from the concanavalin-A-stimulated mononuclear cells was of smaller molecular weight than the proteoglycan from the 'matrigenin'-stimulated fibroblastic cells. The major increase in proteoglycan synthesis and secretion occurred much later during the culture period for concanavalin-A-stimulated mononuclear cells than for 'matrigenin'-stimulated fibroblastic cells.

"Matrigenin" activity from bovine bone--I. Partial purification of activity

1. Bovine bone contains an extractable activity which stimulated the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans by bovine synovial, human synovial and mouse 3T3 fibroblastic cells in culture. Human cells were used to develop an assay for purification of the stimulatory activity ("matrigenin" activity) from bovine bone. 2. Partial purification of "matrigenin" activity was achieved by precipitation of the EDTA extract at pH 3.5 and Sepharose CL-6B chromatography in 4 M guanidinium HCl. Dissociative conditions were necessary to prevent aggregation. 3. On SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the activity ran with a mobility equivalent to a Mr = 27,500 and could be recovered from the SDS gels.

"Matrigenin" activity from bovine bone--II. Effects on the glycosaminoglycans of bovine articular cartilage in culture

1. Bovine articular cartilage slices were studied in long term culture by periodically pulse-labelling the cultures with radiolabelled precursors of glycosaminoglycans and isolating the glycosaminoglycans from cartilage. 2. Pretreatment of the cartilage slices with bacterial collagenase resulted in stimulation of the incorporation of radioactivity into the glycosaminoglycans. 3. The addition of a fraction from bovine bone, enriched in "matrigenin" activity, to cultures of cartilage pretreated with collagenase resulted in an additional increase in the stimulation of incorporation of radioactivity.

"Matrigenin" activity from bovine bone--III. Effects on glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans of human synovial cells in culture

1. Human synovial fibroblastic cells were cultured in the presence and absence of an extract from bovine bone containing "matrigenin" activity. The rate of incorporation of radioactivity into the glycosaminoglycans of the medium of "matrigenin"-treated cultures increased after 24 hr of incubation, compared to "controls". 2. Higher serum concentrations had a greater effect on the incorporation of radioactivity into hyaluronic acid synthesized by "matrigenin"-treated cultures, than by "controls". 3. Incorporation of radioactive precursors into the proteoglycans isolated from the medium was greater in the "matrigenin"-treated cultures than in "controls". The synthesis of a large mol. wt proteoglycan was specifically stimulated.

Control of repair in articular tissues and the development of osteoarthritis

Bones from different mammalian species, including man, contain a low molecular weight extractable activity which stimulates proteoglycan synthesis by connective tissue cells in culture ("matrigenin" activity). Partial purification of matrigenin activity has been achieved from bovine bone. The activity shows a strong tendency for reversible physical associations in low ionic strength solutions and binds tightly to collagenous and other bone matrix proteins. It is speculated that the pathophysiological role of matrigenins may be to initiate repair during injury to bone. Chronic repair reactions are more likely to occur at sites of repeated anatomical stress at the ligamentous, tendon and synovial attachments at the ends of bones, in the subchondral bone and in the articular cartilage regions abbuting to subchondral bone. At these sites, repair reactions may be broadly viewed as the development of osteophytes and fibrocartilage and the progression of subchondral bone sclerosis. Repeated anatomical stress leads to the activation of extracellular, small molecular weight factors, which in turn, stimulate the biosynthesis of matrix macromolecules that are an important feature of these repair reactions of osteoarthritis.

Glycosaminoglycans of rat cerebellum: I. Quantitative analysis of the main constituents at postnatal day 6

Isolated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were quantified biochemically in the cerebella of 6-day-old rats. 14C-Labeled hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin-4-sulfate (C-4-S), added prior to isolation of GAGs from tissue, served as internal standards to allow correction for unknown losses during the purification procedure and exact quantification of GAGs in the intact tissue. Three main constituents--HA, chondroitin sulfate (CS), and heparan sulfate (HS)--were found at concentrations of 1.82, 1.52, and 0.76 micrograms/mg protein amounting to 44%, 37%, and 19% of the total GAG fraction, respectively. Incorporation of [3H]glucosamine precursor into GAGs was higher for HS (56% of incorporated precursor) and lower for HA (29%) and CS (15%). The specific activities of individual GAGs were 64.7 nCi/micrograms for HS, 14.2 for HA, and 8.3 for CS.

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.

Glycosaminoglycan synthesis by rat fibroblast monolayers: effects of serum and solubilized bone matrix fractions

Glycosaminoglycan synthesis by fibroblasts, from skeletal muscle of the neonatal rat, is stimulated by a bone matrix preparation, soluble in isotonic medium, obtained by extracting decalcified rat bone with 4 M guanidine HCl. The stimulation in glycosaminoglycan synthesis is dependent on the presence of serum in the culture, but the stimulatory effect can be clearly distinguished from that of serum. The stimulatory activity in the bone matrix has been fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography and coelutes largely with anionic, non-collagenous matrix glycoproteins.

The effect of solubilized bone matrix fractions from different mammalian species on glycosaminoglycan synthesis by cultured fibroblasts

Human and bovine bone matrices were extracted with salt solutions of different composition and the extracts tested for stimulation of incorporation of radioactivity from [3H]glucosamine and [35S]SO4 into the hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate of the cell pellet, the cell surface and the medium fractions of human synovial cells in culture. Stimulatory activity was extracted with a solution of 0.3 M EDTA in 2.5 M NaCl from bovine but not human bone. Subsequent extraction of the residues with 4 M guanidinium hydrochloride yielded activity from both matrices. A major stimulation of incorporation of radioactivity was observed in the cell surface fractions. Human synovial cells constitute a more sensitive assay system for the stimulatory activity than rabbit synovial cells.

Incorporation of radioactive precursors into glycosaminoglycans by rat muscle fibroblasts exposed to a solubilized rat bone matrix fraction

Confluent cultures of rat muscle fibroblastic cells respond by increased glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis when cultured in medium containing a solubilized bone matrix fraction (SBM) at a concentration of 100 micrograms/ml. The metabolism of the GAG associated with the cell pellet, the cell surface and the tissue culture medium fractions was studied, in the presence and absence of SBM, by measuring the incorporation of radioactivity from [3H]glucosamine and [35S]SO4 into the isolated GAG. Net synthesis of hyaluronic acid and of chondroitin sulfate in the medium fraction increased more rapidly in cultures containing SBM compared to controls, and the accumulation of labelled GAG in the medium of the treated cultures was approximately linear with respect to the length of incubation. The addition of SBM also resulted in increased incorporation of 3H and of 35S into the GAG of the cell surface and cell pellet fractions. In these fractions, stimulation of incorporation of radioactivity occurred in two waves: an early, relatively minor increase and a later relatively major increase. The relatively major stimulation of radioactivity into the GAG of the cell surface fraction occurred between 24 and 48 h and was independent of any apparent effect of serum.

Effect of thyrotropin on glycosaminoglycans synthesized by primocultured thyroid cells

The synthesis of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) was investigated in porcine thyroid cells under the influence or not of thyrotropin. After labelling with [3H] glucosamine and [35S] SO4(2-), enriched GAG-fractions prepared from culture media, cells, and eventually substrate adhering materials, were analyzed by cellulose acetate electrophoresis combined with specific degradations. They comprised heparan sulfate and hyaluronic acid together with an unknown sulfated component labile to endo-beta-galactosidase. Whereas global labellings of newly made GAGs were not significantly modified by thyrotropin, we reproducibly observed with the hormone a substantial increase in the proportion of hyaluronic acid [3H] label and, when cells organized into follicles, of the proportion of cell-associated [3H] GAGs. This system thus offers an interesting model to study how the responsiveness to an hormone and the reorganization that follows might implicate specific glycoconjugates.

Glycosaminoglycan and surface glycoprotein syntheses by rat muscle fibroblast monolayers: response to solubilized bone matrix and effect of serum

Glycosaminoglycan synthesis by muscle fibroblasts derived from neonatal rats has been studied using a sensitive radioisotope method. Feeding the cultures with serum-containing medium supplemented with 80 micrograms/ml of a solubilized bone matrix (SBM) preparation results in an initial enhancement of net glycosaminoglycan secretion and a later additional response, not seen in controls. A pronounced dilution of the specific radioactivity of secreted chondroitin sulfate characterizes the latter response. SBM-treated cultures (100 micrograms/ml) also demonstrate increased incorporation of radioactive glucosamine into a large molecular weight cell surface glycoprotein. SBM suppresses the growth rate and final cell densities at all serum concentrations tested. However, at similar cell densities, higher serum concentrations tend to minimize the relative stimulation of incorporation of radioactivity into the secreted glycosaminoglycans by SBM-treated cultures, compared to controls.

In vitro conditions affecting the synthesis of sulfated proteoglycans by normal and rheumatoid synovial cells in culture

In vitro conditions affecting synthesis of sulfated proteoglycans by cell suspensions derived from monolayer cell cultures of normal and rheumatoid synovial tissue were examined. The capacity of cells to synthesize proteoglycans was estimated by the incorporation of 35S--sulfate into cetylpyridinium chloride--precipitable material. Synthesis of sulfated proteoglycans was maximal during log phase, and after 2--3 hours of recovery from disaggregation. Normal synovial cells appeared to be more sensitive to changes in serum concentration than were rheumatoid synovial cells, but rheumatoid synovial cells were more sensitive to changes in cell density. The proportion of newly synthesized extracellular proteoglycans increased with the duration of incubation in 35S--sulfate.

Sulfated galactosaminoglycans of bovine periodontal ligament. Evidence for the presence of two major types of hybrids but no chondroitin sulfate

Sulfated galactosaminoglycans of mature bovine periodontal ligament were separated into four fractions by ethanol precipitation. Fractions I and II were dermatan sulfates with high contents of L-iduronate, but only small amounts of this hexuronic acid were present in fractions III and IV. Effects of digestion with testicular hyaluronidase or a periodate-alkali treatment showed that most if not all of the glycans in fractions I, II and III were hybrid chains containing both L-iduronate and D-glucuronate. The composition of fraction IV was less certain, but the chains strongly resembled fraction III hybrids in electrophoretic characteristics, not chondroitin sulfate. The total amount of the D-glucuronate-rich fractions III and IV in the ligament was similar to that of I plus II. In contrast, almost all of the sulfated galactosaminoglycans of mature skin were rich in L-iduronate. The more varied composition of the ligament glycosaminoglycans may be related to the mixed population of cells in this tissue.

Incorporation of [3H]glucosamine into glycosaminoglycans in different cell culture conditions by rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells

This study sought to elucidate the optimal cell culture conditions for studies concerned with the incorporation of [3H]glucosamine into glycosaminoglycans by rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells. The incorporation of radioactivity into extracellular sulphated glycosaminoglycans was linear for at least 72 h and that into pericellular sulphated glycosaminoglycans for up to 24 h. The incorporation of radiolabel into hyaluronic acid was linear only up to 12 h. In the exponential growth phase the incorporation of [3H]glucosamine into sulphated glycosaminoglycans and hyaluronic acid proved to be less marked than in the stationary growth phase, but the highest values were nevertheless obtained immediately after trypsinisation. When studied in the stationary growth phase, cell density and incorporation of [3H]glucosamine were positively correlated in the case of hyaluronic acid, but in the case of sulphated glycosaminoglycans there was a negative correlation. The serum concentration of the incubation medium and the incorporation of radioactivity into hyaluronic acid were positively related. With sulphated glycosaminoglycans this was the case only after a 7-day preincubation in the different serum concentrations. When incorporation was studied without preincubation, the incorporation of radioactivity into sulphated glycosaminoglycans proved to be negatively associated with the serum concentration of the medium. The environmental pH of the cells was associated with the incorporation of radioactivity into hyaluronic acid and sulphated glycosaminoglycans in that between pH values 6.8 and 7.9 the incorporation of radioactivity increased when the pH of the medium was raised.