Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.1.6.4 (chondroitinase)
 2,039 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) are negatively charged constituents of the renal extracellular matrix including the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and mesangial matrix. Biochemical and functional studies of patients with type-1 insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) suggest that alterations of HSPG may occur in diabetic nephropathy. We have utilized a specific cytochemical method and electron microscopy to quantitate the distribution of HSPG in the GBM of 10 normal people and in 16 IDDM patients with a spectrum of clinical and structural changes. Enzyme incubation studies of normal infant kidney demonstrated that heparitinase removed 94% of the stainable anionic sites in the lamina rara externa (LRE) and 77% of the sites in the lamina rara interna (LRI) of the GBM. In contrast, incubation in the enzyme chondroitinase ABC did not reduce the number of sites in the LRE but reduced the number of sites in the LRI by 26%. The HSPG anionic sites in normal subjects were distributed in the LRE as 20.9 +/- 1.3, and in the LRI as 13.1 +/- 2.2 per micron GBM length. Anionic sites were slightly reduced (19.6 +/- 1.3, P less than 0.04) in the LRE of IDDM patients with normal urinary albumin excretion rates (UAE), or microalbuminuria, and were reduced in both the LRE and LRI of IDDM patients with clinical proteinuria (13.1 +/- 2.3, P less than 0.001 and 8.9 +/- 2.1, P less than 0.001, respectively). The number of anionic sites in the LRE and LRI, respectively, correlated with UAE (r = +0.78, P less than 0.001, r = +0.58, P less than 0.02), with GBM thickness (LRE, r = +0.81, P less than 0.001; LRI, r = +0.67, P less than 0.01) and with the volume fraction of mesangium (LRE, r = +0.59, P less than 0.02; LRI, r = +0.58, P less than 0.03). These data confirm earlier biochemical findings of a reduction of HSPG in the GBM in advanced diabetic nephropathy but do not provide evidence for the loss of HSPG in the GBM as a mechanism for early microalbuminuria.
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PMID:Heparan sulfate proteoglycan in the glomerular basement membrane in type 1 diabetes mellitus. 151 88

The binding of albumin to the glomerular capillary wall was studied using albumin-gold in perfused kidneys, the interaction of [3H]albumin with isolated glomeruli at 37 degrees C and 4 degrees C and the interaction at [3H]albumin with purified basement membrane. The albumin-gold was found to bind predominantly to the basement membrane and this interaction could be dissociated with high concentrations of albumin. There was binding of albumin to isolated rat glomeruli which exhibited temperature dependence. Glomeruli exhibited a binding site at both 37 degrees C and 4 degrees C with an association constant in the range of 1 to 3 x 10(4) M-1 that bound 7 x 10(13) molecules/glomerulus. At 37 degrees C, however, there was anomalous Scatchard binding behaviour at relatively higher concentrations of albumin (30 to 50 mg/ml) which could be due to either glomerular cell uptake or the appearance of multiple binding sites or both. The binding of albumin to isolated glomeruli and the glomerular albumin levels in isolated kidney perfusion could largely be accounted for by the binding of albumin to the glomerular basement membrane. The albumin binding to glomeruli at 37 degrees C was enhanced by Pronase digestion and heparinase digestion, but remained unchanged following trypsin treatment or neuraminidase treatment. Similarly, albumin was shown to bind to purified basement membrane preparations. This binding was also enhanced (approximately 80 times) by heparinase digestion but remained unchanged after digestion with chondroitinase ABC or hyaluronidase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Albumin interaction with the glomerular capillary wall in vitro. 778

Heparan sulphate-associated anionic sites in the glomerular basement membrane were studied in rats 8 months after induction of diabetes by streptozotocin and in age- adn sex-matched control rats, employing the cationic dye cuprolinic blue. Morphometric analysis at the ultrastructural level was performed using a computerized image processor. The heparan sulphate specificity of the cuprolinic blue staining was demonstrated by glycosaminoglycan-degrading enzymes, showing that pretreatment of the sections with heparitinase abolished all staining, whereas chondroitinase ABC had no effect. The majority of anionic sites (74% in diabetic and 81% in control rats) were found within the lamina rara externa of the glomerular basement membrane. A minority of anionic sites were scattered throughout the lamina densa and lamina rara interna, and were significantly smaller than those in the lamina rara externa of the glomerular basement membrane (p<0.001 and p<0.01 for diabetic and control rats, respectively). Diabetic rats progressively developed albuminuria reaching 40.3 (32.2-62.0) mg/24 h after 8 months in contrast to the control animals (0.8 (0.2-0.9) mg/24 h, p<0.002). At the same time, the number of heparan sulphate anionic sites and the total anionic site surface (number of anionic sites x mean anionic site surface) in the lamina rara externa of the glomerular basement membrane was reduced by 19% (p<0.021) and by 26% (p<0.02), respectively. Number and total anionic site surface in the remaining part of the glomerular basement membrane (lamina densa and lamina rara interna) were not significantly changed. We conclude that in streptozotocin-diabetic rats with an increased urinary albumin excretion, a reduced heparan sulphate charge barrier/density is found at the lamina rara externa of the glomerular basement membrane.
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PMID:Reduction of heparan sulphate-associated anionic sites in the glomerular basement membrane of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy. 869 Jan 68

Concentrations of up to 1.5 milliunits/ml xanthine oxidase (XO) (1.1 micrograms/ml) are found circulating in plasma during diverse inflammatory events. The saturable, high affinity binding of extracellular XO to vascular endothelium and the effects of cell binding on both XO catalytic activity and differentiated vascular cell function are reported herein. Xanthine oxidase purified from bovine cream bound specifically and with high affinity (Kd = 6 nM) at 4 degreesC to bovine aortic endothelial cells, increasing cell XO specific activity up to 10-fold. Xanthine oxidase-cell binding was not inhibited by serum or albumin and was partially inhibited by the addition of heparin. Pretreatment of endothelial cells with chondroitinase, but not heparinase or heparitinase, diminished endothelial binding by approximately 50%, suggesting association with chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans. Analysis of rates of superoxide production by soluble and cell-bound XO revealed that endothelial binding did not alter the percentage of univalent reduction of oxygen to superoxide. Comparison of the extent of CuZn-SOD inhibition of native and succinoylated cytochrome c reduction by cell-bound XO indicated that XO-dependent superoxide production was occurring in a cell compartment inaccessible to CuZn-SOD. This was further supported by the observation of a shift of exogenously added XO from extracellular binding sites to intracellular compartments, as indicated by both protease-reversible cell binding and immunocytochemical localization studies. Endothelium-bound XO also inhibited nitric oxide-dependent cGMP production by smooth muscle cell co-cultures in an SOD-resistant manner. This data supports the concept that circulating XO can bind to vascular cells, impairing cell function via oxidative mechanisms, and explains how vascular XO activity diminishes vasodilatory responses to acetylcholine in hypercholesterolemic rabbits and atherosclerotic humans. The ubiquity of cell-XO binding and endocytosis as a fundamental mechanism of oxidative tissue injury is also affirmed by the significant extent of XO binding to human vascular endothelial cells, rat lung type 2 alveolar epthelial cells, and fibroblasts.
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PMID:Binding of xanthine oxidase to vascular endothelium. Kinetic characterization and oxidative impairment of nitric oxide-dependent signaling. 998 43

The uppermost superficial surface layer of articular cartilage, the 'lamina splendens' which provides a very low friction lubrication surface in articular joints, was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Complementary specimens were also observed under SEM at -10 degrees C without dehydration or sputter ion coating. Fresh adult pig osteochondral specimens were prepared from the patellas of pig knee joints and digested with the enzymes, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase ABC and alkaline protease. Friction coefficients between a pyrex glass plate and the osteochondral specimens digested by enzymes as well as natural (undigested) specimens were measured, using a thrust collar apparatus. Normal saline, hyaluronic acid (HA) and a mixture of albumin, globulin, HA (AGH) were used as lubrication media. The surface irregularities usually observed in SEM studies were not apparent under AFM. The articular cartilage surface was resistant to hyaluronidase and also to chondroitinase ABC, but a fibrous structure was exhibited in alkaline protease enzymes-digested specimens. AFM analysis revealed that the thickness of the uppermost superficial surface layer of articular cartilage was between 800 nm and 2 microm in adult pig articular cartilage. The coefficient of friction (c.f.) was significantly higher in chondroitinase ABC and alkaline protease enzymes digested specimens. Generally, in normal saline lubrication medium, c.f. was higher in comparison to HA and AGH lubrication media. The role of the uppermost, superficial surface layer of articular cartilage in the lubrication mechanism of joints is discussed.
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PMID:Role of uppermost superficial surface layer of articular cartilage in the lubrication mechanism of joints. 1155 3

In this study, we pursued the somewhat controversial issue whether the glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in the endothelial cell glycocalyx are important for glomerular size and charge selectivity. In isoflurane-anesthetized mice, Intralipid droplets were used as indirect markers of the glomerular endothelial cell-surface layer, i.e., the glycocalyx. The mice were given intravenous injections of GAG-degrading enzymes, which due to their high molecular weight remained and acted intravascularly. Flow-arrested kidneys were fixed and prepared for electron microscopy, and the distance between glomerular endothelial cells and the luminal Intralipid droplets was measured. The relative frequency of Intralipid droplets was calculated for each 50-nm increment zone up to 500 nm from the endothelial cell membrane surface as were the mean distances. Glomerular size and charge selectivity were estimated from the clearance data for neutral Ficolls (molecular radii of 12-72 A), and albumin in isolated kidneys was perfused at 8 degrees C. In enzyme-treated animals (hyaluronidase, heparinase, and chondroitinase), the relative Intralipid droplet frequency in the zone closest to the endothelial cells, i.e., 0-50 nm, was increased approximately 2.5 times compared with controls. Also, the mean distance between the Intralipid droplets and the endothelium was decreased from 176 to 115-122 nm by enzyme treatment. These changes were accompanied by an increase in the fractional clearance for albumin. In conclusion, both morphological and functional measurements suggest the endothelial cell glycocalyx to be an important component of the glomerular barrier.
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PMID:Morphological and functional evidence for an important role of the endothelial cell glycocalyx in the glomerular barrier. 1609 82

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) proteoglycans are strong inhibitors of structural rearrangement after injuries of the adult CNS. In addition to CS chains, keratan sulfate (KS) chains are also covalently attached to some proteoglycans. CS and KS sometimes share the same core protein, but exist as independent sugar chains. However, the biological significance of KS remains elusive. Here, we addressed the question of whether KS is involved in plasticity after spinal cord injury. Keratanase II (K-II) specifically degraded KS, i.e., not CS, in vivo. This enzyme digestion promoted the recovery of motor and sensory function after spinal cord injury in rats. Consistent with this, axonal regeneration/sprouting was enhanced in K-II-treated rats. K-II and the CS-degrading enzyme chondroitinase ABC exerted comparable effects in vivo and in vitro. However, these two enzymes worked neither additively nor synergistically. These data and further in vitro studies involving artificial proteoglycans (KS/CS-albumin) and heat-denatured or reduced/alkylated proteoglycans suggested that all three components of the proteoglycan moiety, i.e., the core protein, CS chains, and KS chains, were required for the inhibitory activity of proteoglycans. We conclude that KS is essential for, and has an impact comparable to that of CS on, postinjury plasticity. Our study also established that KS and CS are independent requirements for the proteoglycan-mediated inhibition of axonal regeneration/sprouting.
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PMID:Keratan sulfate restricts neural plasticity after spinal cord injury. 2245 84