Differential regulation of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor by cell surface proteoglycans and free glycosaminoglycan chains

Cardiac glycosaminoglycans and structural alterations during chronic stress-induced depression-like behavior in mice

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its complications; however, causal mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we investigate cardiac structural and functional alterations and associated changes in myocardial glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) disaccharide profile in mice that exhibit depression-like behavior. Mice were assigned to the chronic mild stress (CMS) group and nonstress control group (CT). The CMS group was exposed to a series of mild, unpredictable stressors for 7 wk. Mice in the CMS group show a significant decrease in protein expression of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and exhibit depression-like behavioral changes, such as learned helplessness and decreased exploration behavior, as compared with the control group. Although cardiac function remained unchanged between the groups, echocardiography analysis showed slightly increased left ventricular wall thickness in the CMS group. Furthermore, the CMS group shows an increase in cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and an associated decrease in BDNF protein expression and increase in IL-6 mRNA expression, when compared with control mice. GAG disaccharide analysis of the left ventricles of the CMS and CT mice revealed an elevation in heparan (HS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) content in the CMS hearts (35.3% and 17.9%, respectively, vs. control group). Furthermore, we also observed that unsulfated or monosulfated disaccharides were the most abundant units; however, we did not find any significant difference in mole percent or sulfation pattern of HS/CS disaccharides between the groups. The current investigation highlights a need for further research to explore the relationship between cardiac GAGs biology and myocardial remodeling as a causal mechanism that underlie cardiovascular complications in patients with MDD.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Comorbidity between depression and CVD is well established, whereas its etiology, especially the role of nonfibrous components (proteoglycans/GAGs) of the extracellular matrix, is unexplored. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize cardiac proteoglycan/glycosaminoglycan profile in response to depression-like behavioral changes in mice. We observed that chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced depression-like behavior and alterations in glycosaminoglycan profile were associated with structural changes in the heart.

Cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans are involved in the extracellular Hsp90-stimulated migration and invasion of cancer cells

The extracellular heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is known to participate in cell migration and invasion. Recently, we have shown that cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are involved in the binding and anchoring of extracellular Hsp90 to the plasma membrane, but the biological relevance of this finding was unclear. Here, we demonstrated that the digestion of heparan sulfate (HS) moieties of HSPGs with a heparinase I/III blend and the metabolic inhibition of the sulfation of HS chains by sodium chlorate considerably impair the migration and invasion of human glioblastoma A-172 and fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells stimulated by extracellular native Hsp90. Heparin, a polysaccharide closely related to HS, also reduced the Hsp90-stimulated migration and invasion of cells. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, an intracellular inducer of cell motility bypassing the ligand activation of receptors, restored the basal migration of heparinase- and chlorate-treated cells almost to the control level, suggesting that the cell motility machinery was insignificantly affected in cells with degraded and undersulfated HS chains. On the other hand, the downstream phosphorylation of AKT in response to extracellular Hsp90 was substantially impaired in heparinase- and chlorate-treated cells as compared to untreated cells. Taken together, our results demonstrated for the first time that cell surface HSPGs play an important role in the migration and invasion of cancer cells stimulated by extracellular Hsp90 and that plasma membrane-associated HSPGs are required for the efficient transmission of signal from extracellular Hsp90 into the cell.

Targeting Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Mucopolysaccharidoses

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are inherited metabolic diseases caused by the deficiency of lysosomal enzymes needed to catabolize glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Four therapeutic options are currently considered: enzyme replacement therapy, substrate reduction therapy, gene therapy, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, while some of them exhibit limited clinical efficacy and require high costs, others are still in development. Therefore, alternative treatments for MPSs need to be explored. Here we describe an innovative therapeutic approach based on the use of a recombinant protein that is able to bind the excess of extracellular accumulated heparan sulfate (HS). We demonstrate that this protein is able to reduce lysosomal defects in primary fibroblasts from MPS I and MPS IIIB patients. We also show that, by masking the excess of extracellular accumulated HS in MPS fibroblasts, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signal transduction can be positively modulated. We, therefore, suggest the use of a competitive binding molecule for HS in MPSs as an alternative strategy to prevent the detrimental extracellular substrate storage.

Glycoarray Technologies: Deciphering Interactions from Proteins to Live Cell Responses

Microarray technologies inspired the development of carbohydrate arrays. Initially, carbohydrate array technology was hindered by the complex structures of glycans and their structural variability. The first designs of glycoarrays focused on the HTP (high throughput) study of protein-glycan binding events, and subsequently more in-depth kinetic analysis of carbohydrate-protein interactions. However, the applications have rapidly expanded and now achieve successful discrimination of selective interactions between carbohydrates and, not only proteins, but also viruses, bacteria and eukaryotic cells, and most recently even live cell responses to immobilized glycans. Combining array technology with other HTP technologies such as mass spectrometry is expected to allow even more accurate and sensitive analysis. This review provides a broad overview of established glycoarray technologies (with a special focus on glycosaminoglycan applications) and their emerging applications to the study of complex interactions between glycans and whole living cells.

Spatially restricted hyaluronan production by Has2 drives epithelial tubulogenesis in vitro

Generation of branched tubes from an epithelial bud is a fundamental process in development. We hypothesized that induction of hyaluronan synthase (Has) and production of hyaluronan (HA) drives tubulogenesis in response to morphogenetic cytokines. Treatment of J3B1A mammary cells with transforming growth factor-β1 or renal MDCK and mCCD-N21 cells with hepatocyte growth factor induced strong and specific expression of Has2. Immunostaining revealed that HA was preferentially produced at the tips of growing tubules. Inhibition of HA production, either by 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) or by Has2 mRNA silencing, abrogated tubule formation. HA production by J3B1A and mCCD-N21 cells was associated with sustained activation of ERK and S6 phosphorylation. However, silencing of either CD44 or RHAMM (receptor for HA-mediated motility), the major HA receptors, by RNA interference, did not alter tubulogenesis, suggesting that this process is not receptor-mediated.

Glypican-1 regulates myoblast response to HGF via Met in a lipid raft-dependent mechanism: effect on migration of skeletal muscle precursor cells

BACKGROUND

Via the hepatocyte growth factor receptor (Met), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) exerts key roles involving skeletal muscle development and regeneration. Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are critical modulators of HGF activity, but the role of specific HSPGs in HGF regulation is poorly understood. Glypican-1 is the only HSPG expressed in myoblasts that localize in lipid raft membrane domains, controlling cell responses to extracellular stimuli. We determined if glypican-1 in these domains is necessary to stabilize the HGF-Met signaling complex and myoblast response to HGF.

METHODS

C2C12 myoblasts and a derived clone (C6) with low glypican-1 expression were used as an experimental model. The activation of Met, ERK1/2 and AKT in response to HGF was evaluated. The distribution of Met and its activated form in lipid raft domains, as well as its dependence on glypican-1, were characterized by sucrose density gradient fractionation in both cell types. Rescue experiments reexpressing glypican-1 or a chimeric glypican-1 fused to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of mouse syndecan-1 or myoblast pretreatment with MβCD were conducted. In vitro and in vivo myoblast migration assays in response to HGF were also performed.

RESULTS

Glypican-1 localization in membrane raft domains was required for a maximum cell response to HGF. It stabilized Met and HGF in lipid raft domains, forming a signaling complex where the active phospho-Met receptor was concentrated. Glypican-1 also stabilized CD44 in a HGF-dependent manner. In addition, glypican-1 was required for in vitro and in vivo HGF-dependent myoblast migration.

CONCLUSIONS

Glypican-1 is a regulator of HGF-dependent signaling via Met in lipid raft domains.

Role of skeletal muscle proteoglycans during myogenesis

Skeletal muscle formation during development and the adult mammal consists of a highly organised and regulated the sequence of cellular processes intending to form or repair muscle tissue. This sequence includes, cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Proteoglycans (PGs), macromolecules formed by a core protein and glycosaminoglycan chains (GAGs) present a great diversity of functions explained by their capacity to interact with different ligands and receptors forming part of their signalling complex and/or protecting them from proteolytic cleavage. Particularly attractive is the function of the different types of PGs present at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). This review is focussed on the advances reached to understand the role of PGs during myogenesis and skeletal muscular dystrophies.

The heparanase/syndecan-1 axis in cancer: mechanisms and therapies

Heparanase is an endoglucuronidase that cleaves heparan sulfate chains of proteoglycans. In many malignancies, high heparanase expression and activity correlate with an aggressive tumour phenotype. A major consequence of heparanase action in cancer is a robust up-regulation of growth factor expression and increased shedding of syndecan-1 (a transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan). Substantial evidence indicates that heparanase and syndecan-1 work together to drive growth factor signalling and regulate cell behaviours that enhance tumour growth, dissemination, angiogenesis and osteolysis. Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that therapies targeting the heparanase/syndecan-1 axis hold promise for blocking the aggressive behaviour of cancer.

Proteoglycans in stem cells

The remarkable promise of pluripotent and multipotent stem cells (SCs) imparts tremendous optimism for advancement of regenerative medicine, developmental biology, and drug discovery. Perhaps the greatest challenge is to finely direct, control, and command their differentiation. As those processes are managed on many levels, including genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic, examination of all of these components will yield powerful tools for manipulation of SCs. Carbohydrates surround all cells, including SCs as a glycocalyx. Of particular interest is the class of carbohydrates known as proteoglycans (PGs), which are a diverse group of glycoconjugates consisting of core protein with one or more glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains attached. They are primarily located in the extracellular matrix as well as at cell surfaces, where they are bound or anchored to the membrane through their core proteins. GAG chains are linear, anionic, and highly heterogeneous carbohydrates consisting of repeating disaccharides. PGs facilitate interaction of cells with the extracellular environment by interacting with chemokines, growth factors, and other signaling molecules. Core proteins are involved in many signaling pathways, both individually, as well as through attached proteins via GAG-mediated interactions. These essential and accessible functions make PGs an excellent target for manipulating SCs and guiding their fate. Studying the role of PGs in cell development will yield valuable insight into the mechanism of SC differentiation and suggest approaches toward directing those pathways. Such studies may also help identify valuable markers for distinguishing between various cell populations during differentiation.

Intracellular signaling cascades triggered by the NK1 fragment of hepatocyte growth factor in human prostate epithelial cell line PNT1A

Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF)/c-MET signaling has an emerging role in promoting cell proliferation, survival, migration, wound repair and branching in a variety of cell types. HGF plays a crucial role as a mediator of stromal-epithelial interactions in the normal prostate but the precise biological function of HGF/c-Met interaction in the normal prostate and in prostate cancer is not clear. HGF has two naturally occurring splice variants and NK1, the smallest of these HGF variants, consists of the HGF amino terminus through the first kringle domain. We evaluated the intracellular signaling cascades and the morphological changes triggered by NK1 in human prostate epithelial cell line PNT1A which shows molecular and biochemical properties close to the normal prostate epithelium. We demonstrated that these cells express a functional c-MET, and cell exposure to NK1 induces the phosphorylation of tyrosines 1313/1349/1356 residues of c-MET which provide docking sites for signaling molecules. We observed an increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2, Akt, c-Src, p125FAK, SMAD2/3, and STAT3, down-regulation of the expression of epithelial cell-cell adhesion marker E-cadherin, and enhanced expression levels of mesenchymal markers vimentin, fibronectin, vinculin, α-actinin, and α-smooth muscle actin. This results in cell proliferation, in the appearance of a mesenchymal phenotype, in morphological changes resembling cell scattering and in wound healing. Our findings highlight the function of NK1 in non-tumorigenic human prostatic epithelial cells and provide a picture of the signaling pathways triggered by NK1 in a unique cell line.

Structure of pleiotrophin- and hepatocyte growth factor-binding sulfated hexasaccharide determined by biochemical and computational approaches

Endogenous pleiotrophin and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mediate the neurite outgrowth-promoting activity of chondroitin sulfate (CS)/dermatan sulfate (DS) hybrid chains isolated from embryonic pig brain. CS/DS hybrid chains isolated from shark skin have a different disaccharide composition, but also display these activities. In this study, pleiotrophin- and HGF-binding domains in shark skin CS/DS were investigated. A high affinity CS/DS fraction was isolated using a pleiotrophin-immobilized column. It showed marked neurite outgrowth-promoting activity and strong inhibitory activity against the binding of pleiotrophin to immobilized CS/DS chains from embryonic pig brain. The inhibitory activity was abolished by chondroitinase ABC or B, and partially reduced by chondroitinase AC-I. A pentasulfated hexasaccharide with a novel structure was isolated from the chondroitinase AC-I digest using pleiotrophin affinity and anion exchange chromatographies. It displayed a potent inhibitory effect on the binding of HGF to immobilized shark skin CS/DS chains, suggesting that the pleiotrophin- and HGF-binding domains at least partially overlap in the CS/DS chains involved in the neuritogenic activity. Computational chemistry using molecular modeling and calculations of the electrostatic potential of the hexasaccharide and two pleiotrophin-binding octasaccharides previously isolated from CS/DS hybrid chains of embryonic pig brain identified an electronegative zone potentially involved in the molecular recognition of the oligosaccharides by pleiotrophin. Homology modeling of pleiotrophin based on a related midkine protein structure predicted the binding pocket of pleiotrophin for the oligosaccharides and provided new insights into the molecular mechanism of the interactions between the oligosaccharides and pleiotrophin.

Heparan sulfate in lung morphogenesis: The elephant in the room

Heparan sulfate (HS) is a structurally complex polysaccharide located on the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix, where it participates in numerous biological processes through interactions with a vast number of regulatory proteins such as growth factors and morphogens. HS is crucial for lung development; disruption of HS synthesis in flies and mice results in a major aberration of airway branching, and in mice, it results in neonatal death as a consequence of malformed lungs and respiratory distress. Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions governing lung morphogenesis are directed by various diffusible proteins, many of which bind to, and are regulated by HS, including fibroblast growth factors, sonic hedgehog, and bone morphogenetic proteins. The majority of research into the molecular mechanisms underlying defective lung morphogenesis and pulmonary pathologies, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and pulmonary hypoplasia associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), has focused on abnormal protein expression. The potential contribution of HS to abnormalities of lung development has yet to be explored to any significant extent, which is somewhat surprising given the abnormal lung phenotype exhibited by mutant mice synthesizing abnormal HS. This review summarizes our current understanding of the role of HS and HS-binding proteins in lung morphogenesis and will present in vitro and in vivo evidence for the fundamental importance of HS in airway development. Finally, we will discuss the future possibility of HS-based therapeutics for ameliorating insufficient lung growth associated with lung diseases such as CDH.

Structural basis for agonism and antagonism of hepatocyte growth factor

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is an activating ligand of the Met receptor tyrosine kinase, whose activity is essential for normal tissue development and organ regeneration but abnormal activation of Met has been implicated in growth, invasion, and metastasis of many types of solid tumors. HGF has two natural splice variants, NK1 and NK2, which contain the N-terminal domain (N) and the first kringle (K1) or the first two kringle domains of HGF. NK1, which is a Met agonist, forms a head-to-tail dimer complex in crystal structures and mutations in the NK1 dimer interface convert NK1 to a Met antagonist. In contrast, NK2 is a Met antagonist, capable of inhibiting HGF's activity in cell proliferation without clear mechanism. Here we report the crystal structure of NK2, which forms a "closed" monomeric conformation through interdomain interactions between the N- domain and the second kringle domain (K2). Mutations that were designed to open up the NK2 closed conformation by disrupting the N/K2 interface convert NK2 from a Met antagonist to an agonist. Remarkably, this mutated NK2 agonist can be converted back to an antagonist by a mutation that disrupts the NK1/NK1 dimer interface. These results reveal the molecular determinants that regulate the agonist/antagonist properties of HGF NK2 and provide critical insights into the dimerization mechanism that regulates the Met receptor activation by HGF.

Multifunctionality of extracellular and cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans are a remarkably diverse family of glycosaminoglycan-bearing protein cores that include the syndecans, the glypicans, perlecan, agrin, and collagen XVIII. Members of this protein class play key roles during normal processes that occur during development, tissue morphogenesis, and wound healing. As key components of basement membranes in organs and tissues, they also participate in selective filtration of biological fluids, in establishing cellular barriers, and in modulation of angiogenesis. The ability to perform these functions is provided both by the features of the protein cores as well as by the unique properties of heparan sulfate, which is assembled as a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine and glucuronic acid and modified by specific enzymes to generate specialized biologically active structures. This article discusses the structures and functions of this amazing family of proteoglycans and provides a platform for further study of the individual members.

The binding properties of minimal oligosaccharides reveal a common heparan sulfate/dermatan sulfate-binding site in hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor that can accommodate a wide variety of sulfation patterns

Heparan sulfate (HS)/heparin and dermatan sulfate (DS) both bind with high affinity to hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) and function as necessary co-factors in vitro. How both these two structurally distinct glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are recognized has remained unclear. We have now reconciled this issue using a panel of minimal tri- and tetrasaccharide sequences of variable but well defined sulfation patterns in combination with further development of the gel mobility shift assay to allow simultaneous comparisons of relative protein affinities/selectivities for different oligosaccharides. From this approach it would seem that a minimum binding sequence is a disulfated trisaccharide comprised of an internal iduronate flanked by monosulfated hexosamine residues and that additional sulfation further enhances affinity. However, the similarity in recognition of HS/heparin and DS seems to arise primarily from a lack of any apparent positional requirement for sulfation. Thus, isomers of HS/heparin tetrasaccharides containing only two sulfates irrespective of whether they are purely N-, 2-O-, or 6-O-sulfates bind with equivalent apparent affinity as a disulfated DS tetrasaccharide. In addition, the NMR chemical shifts induced in NK1 (the truncated variant of HGF/SF comprised of the N-terminal and first Kringle domains) by titration with either heparin or DS oligosaccharides strongly indicate that both bind to essentially the same site. Together, these observations reveal an unexpected degree of flexibility in the GAG-HGF/SF interface, allowing a single binding site in the protein to accommodate iduronate-containing sequences of variable sulfation pattern and/or density from different GAGs.

Antithrombin activity and disaccharide composition of dermatan sulfate from different bovine tissues

Dermatan sulfate is a glycosaminoglycan that selectively inhibits the action of thrombin through interaction with heparin cofactor II. Unlike heparin it does not interact with other coagulation factors and is able to inhibit thrombin associated with clots. This property has made dermatan sulfate an attractive candidate as an antithrombotic drug. Previous studies have showed that dermatan sulfate derived from porcine/bovine intestinal mucosa/skin or marine invertebrates is capable of stimulating heparin cofactor II-mediated thrombin inhibition in vitro. This biological activity is reported for the first time in this study using dermatan sulfate derived from mammalian tissues other than intestinal mucosa or skin. Ten different bovine tissues including the aorta, diaphragm, eyes, large and small intestine, esophagus, skin, tendon, tongue, and tongue skin were used to prepare dermatan sulfate-enriched fractions by anion exchange chromatography and acetone precipitation. Heparin cofactor II/dermatan sulfate-mediated thrombin inhibition measured in vitro revealed activity comparable to or higher than the commercial standard with 2-fold differences observed between some tissues. Analysis of the extracted dermatan sulfate using fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis revealed significant differences in the relative percentage of all the mono-sulfated disaccharides, in particular the predominant mammalian disaccharide uronic acid-->N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-4-O-sulfate, confirming previous reports regarding variations in sulfation in dermatan sulfate from different tissues. Overall, these findings demonstrate that dermatan sulfate extracted from a range of bovine tissues exhibits in vitro antithrombin activity equivalent to or higher than that observed for porcine intestinal mucosa, identifying additional sources of dermatan sulfate as potential antithrombotic agents.

Interactions of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor with various glycosaminoglycans reveal an important interplay between the presence of iduronate and sulfate density

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) has a cofactor requirement for heparan sulfate (HS) and dermatan sulfate (DS) in the optimal activation of its signaling receptor MET. However, these two glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) have different sugar backbones and sulfation patterns, with only the presence of iduronate in common. The structural basis for GAG recognition and activation is thus very unclear. We have clarified this by testing a wide array of natural and modified GAGs for both protein binding and activation. Comparisons between Ascidia nigra (2,6-O-sulfated) and mammalian (mainly 4-O-sulfated) DS species, as well as between a panel of specifically desulfated heparins, revealed that no specific sulfate isomer, in either GAG, is vital for interaction and activity. Moreover, different GAGs of similar sulfate density had comparable properties, although affinity and potency notably increase with increasing sulfate density. The weaker interaction with CS-E, compared with DS, shows that GlcA-containing polymers can bind, if highly sulfated, but emphasizes the importance of the flexible IdoA ring. Our data indicate that the preferred binding sites in DS in vivo will be comprised of disulfated, IdoA(2S)-containing motifs. In HS, clustering of N-/2-O-/6-O-sulfation in S-domains will lead to strong reactivity, although binding can also be mediated by the transition zones where sulfates are mainly at the N- and 6-O- positions. GAG recognition of HGF/SF thus appears to be primarily driven by electrostatic interactions and exhibits an interesting interplay between requirements for iduronate and sulfate density that may reflect in part a preference for particular sugar chain conformations.

Chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans control proliferation, radial glia cell differentiation and neurogenesis in neural stem/progenitor cells

Although the local environment is known to regulate neural stem cell (NSC) maintenance in the central nervous system, little is known about the molecular identity of the signals involved. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are enriched in the growth environment of NSCs both during development and in the adult NSC niche. In order to gather insight into potential biological roles of CSPGs for NSCs, the enzyme chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) was used to selectively degrade the CSPG glycosaminoglycans. When NSCs from mouse E13 telencephalon were cultivated as neurospheres, treatment with ChABC resulted in diminished cell proliferation and impaired neuronal differentiation, with a converse increase in astrocytes. The intrauterine injection of ChABC into the telencephalic ventricle at midneurogenesis caused a reduction in cell proliferation in the ventricular zone and a diminution of self-renewing radial glia, as revealed by the neurosphere-formation assay, and a reduction in neurogenesis. These observations suggest that CSPGs regulate neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation and intervene in fate decisions between the neuronal and glial lineage.

Insights into the structure/function of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor from studies with individual domains

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF), the ligand for the receptor tyrosine kinase encoded by the c-Met proto-oncogene, is a multidomain protein structurally related to the pro-enzyme plasminogen and with major roles in development, tissue regeneration and cancer. We have expressed the N-terminal (N) domain, the four kringle domains (K1 to K4) and the serine proteinase homology domain (SP) of HGF/SF individually in yeast or mammalian cells and studied their ability to: (i) bind the Met receptor as well as heparan sulphate and dermatan sulphate co-receptors, (ii) activate Met in target cells and, (iii) map their binding sites onto the beta-propeller domain of Met. The N, K1 and SP domains bound Met directly with comparable affinities (K(d)=2.4, 3.3 and 1.4 microM). The same domains also bound heparin with decreasing affinities (N>K1>>SP) but only the N domain bound dermatan sulphate. Three kringle domains (K1, K2 and K4) displayed agonistic activity on target cells. In contrast, the N and SP domains, although capable of Met binding, displayed no or little activity. Further, cross-linking experiments demonstrated that both the N domain and kringles 1-2 bind the beta-chain moiety (amino acid residues 308-514) of the Met beta-propeller. In summary, the K1, K2 and K4 domains of HGF/SF are sufficient for Met activation, whereas the N and SP domains are not, although the latter domains contribute additional binding sites necessary for receptor activation by full length HGF/SF. The results provide new insights into the structure/function of HGF/SF and a basis for engineering the N and K1 domains as receptor antagonists for cancer therapy.

Neuritogenic activity of chondroitin/dermatan sulfate hybrid chains of embryonic pig brain and their mimicry from shark liver. Involvement of the pleiotrophin and hepatocyte growth factor signaling pathways

Accumulating evidence suggests the involvement of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and dermatan sulfate (DS) hybrid chains in the brain's development and critical roles for oversulfated disaccharides and IdoUA residues in the growth factor-binding and neuritogenic activities of these chains. In the pursuit of sources of CS/DS with unique structures, neuritogenic activity, and therapeutic potential, two novel CS/DS preparations were isolated from shark liver by anion exchange chromatography. The major (80%) low sulfated and minor (20%) highly sulfated fractions had an average molecular mass of 3.8-38.9 and 75.7 kDa, respectively. Digestion with various chondroitinases (CSases) revealed a large panel of disaccharides with either GlcUA or IdoUA scattered along the polysaccharide chains in both of the fractions. The higher M(r) fraction, richer in IdoUA(2-O-sulfate)alpha1-3GalNAc(4-O-sulfate) and GlcUAbeta/IdoUAalpha1-3GalNAc(4,6-O-disulfate) units, exerted greater neurite outgrowth-promoting (NOP) activity and better promoted the binding of various heparin-binding growth factors, including pleiotrophin (PTN), midkine, recombinant human heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor, VEGF(165), fibroblast growth factor-2, fibroblast growth factor-7, and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). These activities were largely abolished by digestion with CSase ABC or B but only moderately affected by a mixture of CSases AC-I and AC-II. In addition, the NOP activity of the larger fraction was markedly reduced by desulfation with alkali, suggesting a role for the 2-O-sulfate of IdoUA(2-O-sulfate)alpha1-3GalNAc(4-O-sulfate). The NOP activity of the higher molecular weight fraction and that of the embryonic pig brain-derived CS/DS fraction were also sup pressed to a large extent by antibodies against HGF, PTN, and their individual receptors cMet and anaplastic lymphoma kinase, revealing the involvement of the HGF and PTN signaling pathways in the activity.

Endocan or endothelial cell specific molecule-1 (ESM-1): a potential novel endothelial cell marker and a new target for cancer therapy

Endocan, previously called endothelial cell specific molecule-1, is a soluble proteoglycan of 50 kDa, constituted of a mature polypeptide of 165 amino acids and a single dermatan sulphate chain covalently linked to the serine residue at position 137. This dermatan sulphate proteoglycan, which is expressed by the vascular endothelium, has been found freely circulating in the bloodstream of healthy subjects. Experimental evidence is accumulating that implicates endocan as a key player in the regulation of major processes such as cell adhesion, in inflammatory disorders and tumor progression. Inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, and pro-angiogenic growth factors such as VEGF, FGF-2 and HGF/SF, strongly increased the expression, synthesis or the secretion of endocan by human endothelial cells. Endocan is clearly overexpressed in human tumors, with elevated serum levels being observed in late-stage lung cancer patients, as measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay, and with its overexpression in experimental tumors being evident by immunohistochemistry. Recently, the mRNA levels of endocan have also been recognized as being one of the most significant molecular signatures of a bad prognosis in several types of cancer including lung cancer. Overexpression of this dermatan sulphate proteoglycan has also been shown to be directly involved in tumor progression as observed in mouse models of human tumor xenografts. Collectively, these results suggest that endocan could be a biomarker for both inflammatory disorders and tumor progression as well as a validated therapeutic target in cancer. On the basis of the recent successes of immunotherapeutic approaches in cancer, the preclinical data on endocan suggests that an antibody raised against the protein core of endocan could be a promising cancer therapy.

Dual mode regulation of migration by lysophosphatidic acid in human gastric cancer cells

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), which interacts with at least three G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), LPA1/Edg-2, LPA2/Edg-4, and LPA3/Edg-7, is a lipid mediator with diverse effects on various cells. Here, we investigated the expression profiles of LPA receptors and patterns of LPA-induced migration in gastric cancer cells. Northern blot analysis revealed that various gastric cancer cells expressed variable levels of LPA1, LPA2, and LPA3 without a consistent pattern. Using a Boyden chamber assay, LPA markedly increased cell migration of LPA1-expressing cells, the effects of which were almost totally abrogated by Ki16425, an LPA antagonist against LPA1 and LPA3. In contrast, LPA by itself did not significantly induce migration in MKN28 and MKN74 cells, which exclusively expressed LPA2. However, when hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was placed with LPA in the lower chamber, LPA induced migration of these cells in a dose-dependent manner. Immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that LPA induced transient tyrosine phosphorylation of c-Met in LPA2-expressing cells, which suggests that the transactivation of c-Met by LPA causes a cooperative migratory response with HGF to these cells. Our results indicate that LPA regulates the migration of gastric cancer cells in a receptor-specific manner and suggest that the expression pattern of LPA receptors may affect the metastatic behavior of gastric cancer.

Hepatocyte growth factor-mediated renal epithelial branching morphogenesis is regulated by glypican-4 expression

The glypican (Gpc) family of cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans are expressed in a tissue-specific and developmentally regulated fashion. To determine if individual Gpcs can modulate heparin-binding growth factor signaling, we examined hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-stimulated mitogenic, motogenic, and morphogenic responses of renal tubular cells expressing different Gpcs. Adult inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells were found to express primarily Gpc4 and to proliferate, migrate, and form tubules with HGF, correlating with sustained extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation. Embryonic IMCD cells expressing predominantly Gpc3 proliferated and migrated in response to HGF but activated ERK only transiently and failed to form tubules. Overexpressing Gpc-4 but not Gpc-3 or Gpc-1 led to sustained HGF-stimulated ERK activation and rescued the tubulogenic response in these cells. These results demonstrate that both signaling and phenotypic responses to HGF can be regulated by specific Gpc expression patterns.

The Interactions of Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor and Its NK1 and NK2 Variants with Glycosaminoglycans Using a Modified Gel Mobility Shift Assay

Full-length hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor interacts with both heparan and dermatan sulfates and is critically dependent upon them as cofactors for activation of the tyrosine kinase receptor Met. Two C-terminally truncated variants (NK1 and NK2) of this growth factor also occur naturally. Their glycosaminoglycan binding properties are not clear. We have undertaken a comparative study of the heparan/dermatan sulfate binding characteristics of all three proteins. This has entailed the development of a modified gel mobility shift assay, utilizing fluorescence end-tagged oligosaccharides, that is also widely applicable to the analysis of many glycosaminoglycan-protein interactions. Using this we have shown that all three hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor variants share identical heparan/dermatan sulfate binding properties and that both glycosaminoglycans occupy the same binding site. The minimal size of the oligosaccharide that binds with high affinity in all cases is a tetrasaccharide from heparan sulfate but a hexasaccharide from dermatan sulfate. These findings demonstrate that functional glycosaminoglycan binding is restricted to a binding site situated solely within the small N-terminal domain. The same minimal size fractions are also able to promote hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor-mediated activation of Met and consequent downstream signaling in the glycosaminoglycan-deficient Chinese hamster ovary pgsA-745 cells. A covalent complex of heparan sulfate tetrasaccharide with monovalent growth factor is also active. The binding and activity of tetrasaccharides put constraints upon the possible interactions and molecular geometry within the ternary signaling complex.

Hepatocyte growth factor induces MDCK cell morphogenesis without causing loss of tight junction functional integrity

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) induces mitogenesis, motogenesis, and tubulogenesis of cultured Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells. We report that in addition to these effects HGF stimulates morphogenesis of tight, polarized MDCK cell monolayers into pseudostratified layers without loss of tight junction (TJ) functional integrity. We tested TJ functional integrity during formation of pseudostratified layers. In response to HGF, the TJ marker ZO-1 remained in morphologically complete rings and functional barriers to paracellular diffusion of ruthenium red were maintained in pseudostratified layers. Transepithelial resistance (TER) increased transiently two- to threefold during the morphogenetic transition from monolayers to pseudostratified layers and then declined to baseline levels once pseudostratified layers were formed. In MDCK cells expressing the trk/met chimera, both HGF and NGF at concentrations of 2.5 ng/ml induced scattering. However, 2.5 ng/ml HGF did not affect TER. The peak effect of HGF on TER was at a concentration of 100 ng/ml. In contrast, NGF at concentrations as high as 25 μg/ml had no effect on TER or pseudostratified layer morphogenesis of trk/met-expressing cultures. These results suggest that altered presentation of the stimulus, such as through HGF interaction with low-affinity sites, may change the downstream signaling response. In addition, our results demonstrate that HGF stimulates pseudostratified layer morphogenesis while inducing an increase in TER and maintaining the overall tightness of the epithelial layer. Stimulation of epithelial cell movements by HGF without loss of functional TJs may be important for maintaining epithelial integrity during morphogenetic events such as formation of pseudostratified epithelia, organ regeneration, and tissue repair.

Characterization of growth factor-binding structures in heparin/heparan sulfate using an octasaccharide library

Heparan sulfate (HS) chains interact with various growth and differentiation factors and morphogens, and the most interactions occur on the specific regions of the chains with certain monosaccharide sequences and sulfation patterns. Here we generated a library of octasaccharides by semienzymatic methods by using recombinant HS 2-O-sulfotransferase and HS 6-O-sulfotransferase, and we have made a systematic investigation of the specific binding structures for various heparin-binding growth factors. An octasaccharide (Octa-I, DeltaHexA-GlcNSO(3)-(HexA-GlcNSO(3))(3)) was prepared by partial heparitinase digestion from completely desulfated N-resulfated heparin. 2-O- and 6-O-sulfated Octa-I were prepared by enzymatically transferring one to three 2-O-sulfate groups and one to three 6-O-sulfate groups per molecule, respectively, to Octa-I. Another octasaccharide containing 3 units of HexA(2SO(4))-GlcNSO(3)(6SO(4)) was prepared also from heparin. This octasaccharide library was subjected to affinity chromatography for interactions with fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2, -4, -7, -8, -10, and -18, hepatocyte growth factor, bone morphogenetic protein 6, and vascular endothelial growth factor, respectively. Based upon differences in the affinity to those octasaccharides, the growth factors could be classified roughly into five groups: group 1 needed 2-O-sulfate but not 6-O-sulfate (FGF-2); group 2 needed 6-O-sulfate but not 2-O-sulfate (FGF-10); group 3 had the affinity to both 2-O-sulfate and 6-O-sulfate but preferred 2-O-sulfate (FGF-18, hepatocyte growth factor); group 4 required both 2-O-sulfate and 6-O-sulfate (FGF-4, FGF-7); and group 5 hardly bound to any octasaccharides (FGF-8, bone morphogenetic protein 6, and vascular endothelial growth factor). The approach using the oligosaccharide library may be useful to define specific structures required for binding to various heparin-binding proteins. Octasaccharides with the high affinity to FGF-2 and FGF-10 had the activity to release them, respectively, from their complexes with HS. Thus, the library may provide new reagents to specifically regulate bindings of the growth factors to HS.

Structural determinants of heparan sulphate modulation of GDNF signalling

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has many functions including regulation of kidney morphogenesis and of neuron growth and survival in the enteric, sensory and central nervous systems. Reports of GDNF being used against Parkinson's disease in human patients have sparked intense clinical interest in GDNF signalling. We recently showed that GDNF signalling requires cell surface heparan sulphate glycosaminoglycans (Barnett et al., 2002, J. Cell Sci. 115, 4495-4503). Here we use exogenous modified heparins to determine those structural features required to inhibit GDNF signalling in ex vivo assays. 2-O-sulphate groups were found to impart high activity but were not absolute requirements for the inhibition of GDNF signalling. These findings may explain the similarities between the phenotypes of transgenic mice lacking GDNF and those lacking heparan sulphate 2-sulphotransferase, the enzyme responsible for achieving 2-O-sulphation of uronic acids in vivo.

Inhibition of myoblast migration via decorin expression is critical for normal skeletal muscle differentiation

During limb skeletal muscle formation, committed muscle cells proliferate and differentiate in the presence of extracellular signals that stimulate or repress each process. Proteoglycans are extracellular matrix organizers and modulators of growth factor activities, regulating muscle differentiation in vitro. Previously, we characterized proteoglycan expression during early limb muscle formation and showed a spatiotemporal relation between the onset of myogenesis and the expression of decorin, an important muscle extracellular matrix component and potent regulator of TGF-beta activity. To evaluate decorin's role during in vivo differentiation in committed muscle cells, we grafted wild type and decorin-null myoblasts onto chick limb buds. The absence of decorin enhanced the migration and distribution of myoblasts in the limb, correlating with the inhibition of skeletal muscle differentiation. Both phenotypes were reverted by de novo decorin expression. In vitro, we determined that both decorin core protein and its glycosaminoglycan chain were required to reverse the migration phenotype. Results presented here suggest that the enhanced migration observed in decorin-null myoblasts may not be dependent on chemotactic growth factor signaling nor the differentiation status of the cells. Decorin may be involved in the establishment and/or coordination of a critical myoblast density, through inhibition of migration, that permits normal muscle differentiation during embryonic myogenesis.

Avidin is a heparin-binding protein. Affinity, specificity and structural analysis

The specificity, affinity and stoichiometry of the interaction between avidin and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) have been investigated using heparin-coated microtiter-plate assays, a filter binding assay and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis using a BIAcore 2000 biosensor. Avidin binds heparin and heparan sulfate, and chondroitin-4-sulfate, chondroitin-6-sulfate, dermatan sulfate or hyaluronan were unable to compete for binding. Highest-affinity binding was observed with heparin, and weaker binding was seen when using heparan sulfate or low molecular weight heparin preparations. This indicated that only specific polysaccharide structures tightly interact with avidin. Approximately two avidin molecules bind to each heparin molecule with an overall affinity of 160 nM. The interaction is pH dependent, increasing five-fold upon decreasing the pH from 7.5 to 5.5, while binding was negligible at pH 9. We demonstrate the potential of fluorescent avidin derivatives as a tool for the detection of heparin and heparan sulfates on surfaces by application to both heparin immobilized on polystyrene plates and heparan sulfate on cell surfaces.

Effect of transforming growth factor-beta1, insulin-like growth factor-I, and hepatocyte growth factor on proteoglycan production and regulation in canine melanoma cell lines

OBJECTIVE

To identify extracellular proteoglycans produced by canine melanoma cell lines and analyze the effect of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on these proteoglycans.

SAMPLE POPULATION

3 canine melanoma cell lines (ie, CML-1, CML-6M, and CML-10c2).

PROCEDURE

Extracellular proteoglycans were analyzed by use of metabolic labeling and western immunoblot analysis. The effect of TGF-beta1 on cell proliferation was determined by incorporation of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine.

RESULTS

The CML-1 and CML-6M melanoma cell lines produced 2 main extracellular proteoglycans. One of them was identified as versican, a proteoglycan found in undifferentiated human melanoma cell lines. The CML-10c2 cells produced a small amount of extracellular proteoglycans. Addition of TGF-beta1 (1.25 to 6.25 ng/ml) increased the release of sulfated proteoglycans into the medium. The TGF-beta1 had mainly a posttranslational effect, because it increased the molecular mass of the sulfated bands. Addition of IGF-I (50 ng/ml) slightly increased production of proteoglycans in the CML-6M cell line, whereas HGF (50 ng/ml) did not have any effect on proteoglycan production.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The proteoglycan content and response toTGF-beta1 treatment for CML-1 and CML-6M canine melanoma cell lines are similar to that for undifferentiated human melanoma cell lines. In contrast, CML-10c2 cells produced a low amount of proteoglycans with high molecular weight. Because these extracellular proteoglycans are involved in the control of cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration, they may play an important role in the progression of melanomas in dogs.

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor binds to small heparin-derived oligosaccharides and stimulates the proliferation of human HaCaT keratinocytes

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) acts via a dual receptor system consisting of the MET tyrosine kinase receptor and heparan sulfate or dermatan sulfate proteoglycans. In optical biosensor binding assays, competition by oligosaccharides for binding of HGF/SF to immobilized heparin showed that disaccharides failed to compete, whereas tetrasaccharides inhibited HGF/SF binding (IC(50) 8 microg/ml). The inhibitory potency of the oligosaccharides increased as their length increased by successive disaccharide units, to reach a maximum (IC(50) 1 microg/ml) at degree of polymerization (dp) 10. In binding assays, HGF/SF was found to bind directly to oligosaccharides as small as dp 4, and the binding parameters were similar for oligosaccharides of dp 4-14 (k(a) 2.2-45.3 x 10(6) m(-1) s(-1), k(d) 0.033-0.039 s(-1), and K(d) 9-16 nm). In human keratinocytes, HGF/SF stimulated DNA synthesis, and this was dependent on a sustained phosphorylation of p42/44(MAPK). In chlorate-treated and hence sulfated glycosaminoglycan-deficient HaCaT cells, the stimulation of DNA synthesis by HGF/SF was almost abolished. Heparin-derived oligosaccharides from dp 2 to dp 24 were added together with HGF/SF to chlorate-treated cells to determine the minimum size of oligosaccharides able to restore HGF/SF activity. At restricted concentrations of oligosaccharides (4 ng/ml), HGF/SF required decasaccharides, whereas at higher concentrations (100 ng/ml) even tetrasaccharides were able to partly restore DNA synthesis. The results suggest that HGF/SF binds to a tetrasaccharide and that although this is sufficient to enable the stimulation of DNA synthesis, longer oligosaccharides are more efficient, perhaps by virtue of their ability to bind more easily other molecules.

The mode of action of heparan and dermatan sulfates in the regulation of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor, in addition to binding to its specific signal-transducing receptor, Met, also interacts with both heparan and dermatan sulfates with high affinity. We have investigated the comparative role of these two glycosaminoglycans in the activation of Met by hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor. Using glycosaminoglycan-deficient CHO pgsA-745 cells we have shown that growth factor activity is critically dependent upon glycosaminoglycans, and that heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate are equally potent as co-receptors. Cross-linked 1:1 conjugates of growth factor and either heparan or dermatan sulfate do not dimerize under physiological conditions and are biologically active. This implies that a ternary signaling complex with Met forms in vivo. Native Met isolated from CHO pgsA-745 cells shows only very weak intrinsic affinity for heparin in vitro. Also, a heparin-derived hexasaccharide, which is the minimal size for high affinity binding to the growth factor alone, is sufficient to induce biological activity. Together these observations imply that the role of these glycosaminoglycan may be primarily to effect a conformational change in hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor, rather than to induce a necessary growth factor dimerization, or to stabilize a ternary complex by additionally interacting with Met.

Endocan is a novel chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate proteoglycan that promotes hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor mitogenic activity

Proteoglycans that modulate the activities of growth factors, chemokines, and coagulation factors regulate in turn the vascular endothelium with respect to processes such as inflammation, hemostasis, and angiogenesis. Endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 is mainly expressed by endothelial cells and regulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines (Lassalle, P., Molet, S., Janin, A., Heyden, J. V., Tavernier, J., Fiers, W., Devos, R., and Tonnel, A. B. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 20458-20464). We demonstrate that this molecule is secreted as a soluble dermatan sulfate (DS) proteoglycan. This proteoglycan represents the major form either secreted by cell lines or circulating in the human bloodstream. Because this proteoglycan is specifically secreted by endothelial cells, we propose to name it endocan. The glycosaminoglycan component of endocan consists of a single DS chain covalently attached to serine 137. Endocan dose-dependently increased the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF)-mediated proliferation of human embryonic kidney cells, whereas the nonglycanated form of endocan did not. Moreover, DS chains purified from endocan mimicked the endocan-mediated increase of cell proliferation in the presence of HGF/SF. Overall, our results demonstrate that endocan is a novel soluble dermatan sulfate proteoglycan produced by endothelial cells. Endocan regulates HGF/SF-mediated mitogenic activity and may support the function of HGF/SF not only in embryogenesis and tissue repair after injury but also in tumor progression.

Syndecan-3 and syndecan-4 specifically mark skeletal muscle satellite cells and are implicated in satellite cell maintenance and muscle regeneration

Myogenesis in the embryo and the adult mammal consists of a highly organized and regulated sequence of cellular processes to form or repair muscle tissue that include cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Data from cell culture and in vivo experiments implicate both FGFs and HGF as critical regulators of these processes. Both factors require heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans for signaling from their respective receptors. Since syndecans, a family of cell-surface transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are implicated in FGF signaling and skeletal muscle differentiation, we examined the expression of syndecans 1-4 in embryonic, fetal, postnatal, and adult muscle tissue, as well as on primary adult muscle fiber cultures. We show that syndecan-1, -3, and -4 are expressed in developing skeletal muscle tissue and that syndecan-3 and -4 expression is highly restricted in adult skeletal muscle to cells retaining myogenic capacity. These two HSPGs appear to be expressed exclusively and universally on quiescent adult satellite cells in adult skeletal muscle tissue, suggesting a role for HSPGs in satellite cell maintenance or activation. Once activated, all satellite cells maintain expression of syndecan-3 and syndecan-4 for at least 96 h, also implicating these HSPGs in muscle regeneration. Inhibition of HSPG sulfation by treatment of intact myofibers with chlorate results in delayed proliferation and altered MyoD expression, demonstrating that heparan sulfate is required for proper progression of the early satellite cell myogenic program. These data suggest that, in addition to providing potentially useful new markers for satellite cells, syndecan-3 and syndecan-4 may play important regulatory roles in satellite cell maintenance, activation, proliferation, and differentiation during skeletal muscle regeneration.

Endostatin regulates branching morphogenesis of renal epithelial cells and ureteric bud

Endostatin (ES) inhibits endothelial cell migration and has been found to bind to glypicans (Gpcs) on both endothelial cells and renal epithelial cells. We examined the possibility that ES might regulate epithelial cell morphogenesis. The addition of ES to cultured epithelial cells causes an inhibition of both hepatocyte growth factor- and epidermal growth factor-dependent process formation and migration. In contrast, ES does not inhibit epidermal growth factor-dependent morphogenesis in renal epithelial cells derived from Gpc-3 -/mice, whereas expression of Gpc-1 in these cells reconstitutes ES responsiveness. Gpc-3 -/mice have been shown to display enhanced ureteric bud (UB) branching early in development, and cultured UB cells release ES into the media, suggesting that ES binding to Gpcs may regulate UB branching. The addition of ES inhibits branching of the explanted UB, whereas a neutralizing Ab to ES enhances UB outgrowth and branching. Thus, local expression of ES at the tips of the UB may play a role in the regulation of UB arborization.

Antisense inhibition of decorin expression in myoblasts decreases cell responsiveness to transforming growth factor beta and accelerates skeletal muscle differentiation

Decorin is a member of the family of the small leucine-rich proteoglycans. In addition to its function as an extracellular matrix organizer, it has the ability to activate the epidermal growth factor receptor, and it forms complexes with various isoforms of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). Decorin is expressed during skeletal muscle differentiation and is up-regulated in dystrophic muscle. In this study we investigated the role of decorin in TGF-beta-dependent inhibition of myogenesis. To probe the function of decorin during myogenesis, C(2)C(12) myoblasts were stably transfected with a plasmid expressing antisense decorin mRNA. The resulting inhibition of decorin expression led to the expression of myogenin, a master transcription factor for muscle differentiation, under growth conditions and accelerated skeletal muscle differentiation as determined by the expression of creatine kinase. In contrast myogenin expression was inhibited by adenovirally induced decorin expression or by adding exogenous decorin. Reduced synthesis of decorin resulted in a 7-fold decreased sensitivity to TGF-beta-mediated inhibition of myogenin expression. In contrast, adenovirally induced decorin expression in wild type cells resulted in a 5-fold increased sensitivity to TGF-beta-mediated inhibition of myogenin expression. Transfection studies with the TGF-beta-dependent promoter of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 coupled with luciferase revealed that the transducing receptors for TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 were involved in the different responses of wild type and antisense decorin myoblasts. These results demonstrate that a reduction of decorin expression or of decorin availability results in a decreased responsiveness to TGF-beta. These findings strongly suggest a new role for decorin during skeletal muscle terminal differentiation by activating TGF-beta-dependent signaling pathways.

High levels of soluble syndecan-1 in myeloma-derived bone marrow: modulation of hepatocyte growth factor activity

Syndecan-1 is a heparan sulfate proteoglycan expressed on the surface of, and actively shed by, myeloma cells. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a cytokine produced by myeloma cells. Previous studies have demonstrated elevated levels of syndecan-1 and HGF in the serum of patients with myeloma, both of negative prognostic value for the disease. Here we show that the median concentrations of syndecan-1 (900 ng/mL) and HGF (6 ng/mL) in the marrow compartment of patients with myeloma are highly elevated compared with healthy controls and controls with other diseases. We show that syndecan-1 isolated from the marrow of patients with myeloma seems to exist in an intact form, with glucosaminoglycan chains. Because HGF is a heparan-sulfate binding cytokine, we examined whether it interacted with soluble syndecan-1. In supernatants from myeloma cells in culture as well as in pleural effusions from patients with myeloma, HGF existed in a complex with soluble syndecan-1. Washing myeloma cells with purified soluble syndecan-1 could effectively displace HGF from the cell surface, suggesting that soluble syndecan-1 can act as a carrier for HGF in vivo. Finally, using a sensitive HGF bioassay (interleukin-11 production from the osteosarcoma cell line Saos-2) and intact syndecan-1 isolated from the U-266 myeloma cell line, we found that the presence of high concentrations of syndecan-1 (more than 3 μg/mL) inhibited the HGF effect, whereas lower concentrations potentiated it. HGF is only one of several heparin-binding cytokines associated with myeloma. These data indicate that soluble syndecan-1 may participate in the pathology of myeloma by modulating cytokine activity within the bone marrow.

High levels of soluble syndecan-1 in myeloma-derived bone marrow: modulation of hepatocyte growth factor activity

Syndecan-1 is a heparan sulfate proteoglycan expressed on the surface of, and actively shed by, myeloma cells. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a cytokine produced by myeloma cells. Previous studies have demonstrated elevated levels of syndecan-1 and HGF in the serum of patients with myeloma, both of negative prognostic value for the disease. Here we show that the median concentrations of syndecan-1 (900 ng/mL) and HGF (6 ng/mL) in the marrow compartment of patients with myeloma are highly elevated compared with healthy controls and controls with other diseases. We show that syndecan-1 isolated from the marrow of patients with myeloma seems to exist in an intact form, with glucosaminoglycan chains. Because HGF is a heparan-sulfate binding cytokine, we examined whether it interacted with soluble syndecan-1. In supernatants from myeloma cells in culture as well as in pleural effusions from patients with myeloma, HGF existed in a complex with soluble syndecan-1. Washing myeloma cells with purified soluble syndecan-1 could effectively displace HGF from the cell surface, suggesting that soluble syndecan-1 can act as a carrier for HGF in vivo. Finally, using a sensitive HGF bioassay (interleukin-11 production from the osteosarcoma cell line Saos-2) and intact syndecan-1 isolated from the U-266 myeloma cell line, we found that the presence of high concentrations of syndecan-1 (more than 3 μg/mL) inhibited the HGF effect, whereas lower concentrations potentiated it. HGF is only one of several heparin-binding cytokines associated with myeloma. These data indicate that soluble syndecan-1 may participate in the pathology of myeloma by modulating cytokine activity within the bone marrow.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 stimulation of p42/44MAPK phosphorylation and IkappaB degradation is regulated by heparan sulfate/heparin in rat mammary fibroblasts

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) interacts with a dual receptor system consisting of tyrosine kinase receptors and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs). In rat mammary fibroblasts, FGF-2 stimulated DNA synthesis and induced a sustained phosphorylation of p42/44(MAPK) and of its downstream target, p90(RSK). Moreover, FGF-2 also stimulated the transient degradation of IkappaBalpha and IkappaBbeta. PD098059, a specific inhibitor of p42/44(MAPK) phosphorylation, inhibited FGF-2-stimulated DNA synthesis, phosphorylation of p42/44(MAPK) and p90(RSK), and degradation of IkappaBbeta. In contrast, in chlorate-treated and hence sulfated glycosaminoglycan-deficient cells, FGF-2 was unable to stimulate DNA synthesis. However, FGF-2 was able to trigger a transient phosphorylation of both p42/44(MAPK) and p90(RSK), which peaked at 15 min and returned to control levels at 30 min. In these sulfated glycosaminoglycan-deficient cells, no degradation of IkappaBalpha and IkappaBbeta was observed after FGF-2 addition. However, in chlorate-treated cells, the addition of heparin or purified HSPGs simultaneously with FGF-2 restored DNA synthesis, the sustained phosphorylation of p42/44(MAPK) and p90(RSK), and the degradation of IkappaBalpha and IkappaBbeta. These results suggest that the HSPG receptor for FGF-2 not only influences the outcome of FGF-2 signaling, e.g. cell proliferation, but importantly regulates the immediate-early signals generated by this growth factor.

Branching morphogenesis during kidney development

Epithelial tissues such as kidney, lung, and breast arise through branching morphogenesis of a pre-existing epithelial structure. They share common morphological stages and a need for regulation of a similar set of developmental decisions--where to start; when, where, and in which direction to branch; and how many times to branch--decisions requiring regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasiveness, and cell motility. It is likely that similar molecular mechanisms exist for the epithelial branching program. Here we focus on the development of the collecting system of the kidney, where, from recent data using embryonic organ culture, cell culture models of branching morphogenesis, and targeted gene deletion experiments, the outlines of a working model for branching morphogenesis begin to emerge. Key branching morphogenetic molecules in this model include growth factors, transcription factors, distal effector molecules (such as extracellular matrix proteins, integrins, proteinases and their inhibitors), and genes regulating apoptosis and cell proliferation.

Heparin and heparan sulfate bind interleukin-10 and modulate its activity

Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) are a group of negatively charged molecules that have been shown to bind and directly regulate the bioactivity of growth factors and cytokines such as basic fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor-β, IL-7, and interferon-γ. The ability of GAG to interact with human IL-10 (hIL-10) and the effect of these interactions on its biologic activity were analyzed. It was demonstrated by affinity chromatography that hIL-10 binds strongly to heparin–agarose at physiological pH. Biosensor-based binding kinetic analysis indicated an equilibrium dissociation constant, Kd, of 54 nmol/L for this interaction. Human IL-10 stimulated CD16 and CD64 expression on the monocyte/macrophage population within peripheral blood mononuclear cells, with optimal concentrations between 1 and 10 ng/mL. Soluble heparin, heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and dermatan sulfate were shown to inhibit the hIL-10–induced expression of CD16 and CD64 in a concentration-dependent manner. Heparin and heparan sulfate were most effective with IC50 values of 100 to 500 μg/mL. Considerably higher concentrations of dermatan sulfate and chondroitin 4-sulfate were required with an IC50 of 2000 to 5000 μg/mL, whereas chondroitin 6-sulfate was essentially inactive. The antagonistic effect of heparin on hIL-10 activity was shown to be dependent on N-sulfation, inasmuch as de-N-sulfated heparin had little or no inhibitory effect on the IL-10– induced expression of CD16, whereas the effect of de-O-sulfated heparin was comparable to that of unmodified heparin. Furthermore, the inhibition of cell-bound proteoglycan sulfation reduced the hIL-10–mediated expression of CD16 molecules on monocytes/macrophages. Taken together, these findings support the hypothesis that soluble and cell-surface GAG and, in particular, their sulfate groups are important in binding and modulation of hIL-10 activity.

Stimulation of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation of human mammary myoepithelial-like cells by hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor depends on heparan sulfate proteoglycans and sustained phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases p42/44

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is a heparan/dermatan sulfate-binding growth factor produced by stromal cells that acts as a paracrine effector on neighboring epithelia. HGF/SF stimulated DNA synthesis in human mammary (Huma) 109 myoepithelial-like cells grown on collagen I and fibronectin substrata but not when grown on plastic. Dual phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (p42/44(MAPK)) was required for this stimulation of DNA synthesis. In Huma 109 cells cultured on plastic, HGF/SF stimulated a transient phosphorylation of p42/44(MAPK), which reached a maximum at 10 min after addition of the growth factor and returned to near basal levels after 20 min. In contrast, the phosphorylation of p42/44(MAPK) stimulated by HGF/SF in cells cultured on collagen I or fibronectin was sustained over 45 min. In Huma 109 cells deficient in sulfated glycosaminoglycans, HGF/SF failed to stimulate p42/44(MAPK) phosphorylation or DNA synthesis on any substratum, even when soluble heparan sulfate proteoglycans purified from the cells or from the culture medium were added. However, HGF/SF stimulated DNA synthesis and a sustained phosphorylation of p42/44(MAPK) in sulfated glycosaminoglycan-deficient Huma 109 cells plated on a substratum of medium HSPGs but not cell HSPGs. The HGF/SF-induced proliferation is thus highly dependent on heparan sulfate proteoglycans in myoepithelial-like cells.