Characterization of glycosaminoglycans in regenerating canine liver

Elevate level of glycosaminoglycans and altered sulfation pattern of chondroitin sulfate are associated with differentiation status and histological type of human primary hepatic carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

The characteristics of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in many carcinomas have been reported to be different from those in normal tissues, which can be used as prognostic indices in some cancers. However, the difference in GAG characteristics among various differentiation status or histological types of the same cancer has not been described. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between GAG characteristics and human primary hepatic carcinomas of divers differentiation status or histological type.

METHODS

GAGs from intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas and differently differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas were extracted, purified and enzymatically digested. Their content, relative molecular size distribution and disaccharide composition were analyzed and compared using electrophoresis and high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS

A progressive increase in the content of chondroitin sulfate, low molecular size GAGs, and nonsulfated and disulfated chondroitin sulfate disaccharide units, together with a gradual decrease in heparan sulfate, have been found as the differentiation status of hepatocellular carcinoma became poorer. A significant increase in hyaluronic acid, which only slightly increased in hepatocellular carcinoma, was found in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas.

CONCLUSION

The alterations in GAG characteristics in primary hepatic carcinoma were associated with both the differentiation status and the histological type of the tumor.

A hyaluronan synthase suppressor, 4-methylumbelliferone, inhibits liver metastasis of melanoma cells

4-Methylumbelliferone (MU) inhibits the cell surface hyaluronan (HA) formation, and that such inhibition results in suppression of adhesion and locomotion of cultured melanoma cells. Here, we examine the effect of MU on melanoma cell metastasis in vivo. MU-treated melanoma cells showed both decreased cell surface HA formation and suppression of liver metastasis after injection into the mice. Oral administration of MU to mice decreased tissue HA content. These HA knock-down mice displayed suppressed liver metastasis. Thus, both cell surface HA of melanoma cells and recipient liver HA can promote liver metastasis, indicating that MU has potential as an anti-metastatic agent.