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.     

Intracellular and extracellular regulation of ureteric bud morphogenesis

The urinary collecting duct system of the permanent kidney develops by growth and branching of an initially unbranched epithelial tubule, the ureteric bud. Formation of the ureteric bud as an outgrowth of the wolffian duct is induced by signalling molecules (such as GDNF) that emanate from the adjacent metanephrogenic mesenchyme. Once it has invaded the mesenchyme, growth and branching of the bud is controlled by a variety of molecules, such as the growth factors GDNF, HGF, TGFβ, activin, BMP‐2, BMP‐7, and matrix molecules such as heparan sulphate proteoglycans and laminins. These various influences are integrated by signal transduction systems inside ureteric bud cells, with the MAP kinase, protein kinase A and protein kinase C pathways appearing to play major roles. The mechanisms of morphogenetic change that produce branching remain largely obscure, but matrix metalloproteinases are known to be necessary for the process, and there is preliminary evidence for the involvement of the actin/myosin contractile cytoskeleton in creating branch points.     

Intracellular and extracellular regulation of ureteric bud morphogenesis

The urinary collecting duct system of the permanent kidney develops by growth and branching of an initially unbranched epithelial tubule, the ureteric bud. Formation of the ureteric bud as an outgrowth of the wolffian duct is induced by signalling molecules (such as GDNF) that emanate from the adjacent metanephrogenic mesenchyme. Once it has invaded the mesenchyme, growth and branching of the bud is controlled by a variety of molecules, such as the growth factors GDNF, HGF, TGFβ, activin, BMP-2, BMP-7, and matrix molecules such as heparan sulphate proteoglycans and laminins. These various influences are integrated by signal transduction systems inside ureteric bud cells, with the MAP kinase, protein kinase A and protein kinase C pathways appearing to play major roles. The mechanisms of morphogenetic change that produce branching remain largely obscure, but matrix metalloproteinases are known to be necessary for the process, and there is preliminary evidence for the involvement of the actin/myosin contractile cytoskeleton in creating branch points.     

Small changes in lymphocyte development and activation in mice through tissue-specific alteration of heparan sulphate

We have examined the role of heparan sulphate in lymphocyte development and activation in mice by conditionally deleting the genes encoding the heparan sulphate biosynthetic enzymes N-deacetylase/N-sulphotransferase-1 and -2 (Ndst1 and Ndst2) and glucuronic acid/N-acetylglucosamine co-polymerase-1 (Ext1) in T cells and B cells, respectively. Ndst1 and Ndst2 are the only Ndst isoforms in T cells. In T-cell Ndst-deficient mice there were normal ratios of CD4(+)/CD8(+) cells in the blood, spleen and thymus, indicating no dramatic effect on development. However, Ndst-deficient T cells were hyperresponsive to low-level activation, suggesting that cell surface heparan sulphate plays a role in T-cell proliferation. The hyperresponsive state correlated with a decrease in cell surface heparan sulphate that occurs in response to activation in wild-type cells. There was a slight change in the number of developing B cells in B-cell Ext1-deficient mice, but the alteration did not cause a change in antibody production. These findings demonstrate that cell surface heparan sulphate may not play a crucial role in lymphocyte development, but can modulate the sensitivity of T cells to activation.     

Murine T lymphocytes and T-lymphoma cells produce chondroitin sulphate and heparan sulphate proteoglycans and free heparan sulphate glycosaminoglycan.

Normal murine splenic T lymphocytes and T-lymphoma cells were incubated with [35S]sulphate in low-sulphate medium for 4 hr. Gel filtration and SDS-PAGE revealed that the radiolabelled macromolecules secreted by these cells were almost exclusively chondroitin sulphate and heparan sulphate proteoglycans of relatively low molecular weight (MW), 100,000-200,000. Triton X-100 extracts of the cells contained similar proteoglycans. Under the conditions employed the incorporation of radiolabel by cells grown in vivo was equally distributed between cell-retained and secreted fractions, whereas cells grown in vitro retained some 75% of incorporated label. In general heparan sulphate predominated over chondroitin sulphate in both secreted and cell-retained fractions. Cell extracts also contained a minor proportion of free glycosaminoglycan, which is almost exclusively heparan sulphate. These chains, like those incorporated into the proteoglycan, were around 12,000 MW. The T-lymphoma cells RDM-4, whether grown in vitro or in vivo, also incorporated a substantial proportion of [35S]sulphate into a single, cell-retained protein, 100,000 MW. No such radiolabelled protein was detectable in T cells.     

Receptors on lymphocytes for endogenous splenic glycosaminoglycans.

Previous studies have shown that lymphocytes carry cell surface receptors for sulphated polysaccharides (SPS), and SPS recognition may play a role in lymphocyte migration and positioning in vivo. This paper describes attempts to isolate and characterize the endogenous glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of murine spleen and determine whether splenic lymphocytes carry cell surface receptors for these GAGs. A procedure was devised for isolating GAGs from murine spleen in good yield and high purity and the GAG preparation was then radiolabelled for subsequent binding studies. It was found that the splenic GAGs bound to murine splenocytes in a saturable, rapid and reversible manner with only a small subpopulation of the splenic GAG preparation being involved in binding. This reactive species was chondroitinase ABC-resistant and nitrous acid-sensitive, indicative of a heparan sulphate/heparin-like molecule. Furthermore, using immunofluorescent flow cytometry studies it was demonstrated that the majority of spleen cells have receptors for these GAGs. Subsequent ion-exchange fractionation and SDS-PAGE analysis of chondroitinase ABC-resistant GAGs confirmed that the splenic GAG recognized by splenocytes was a heparan sulphate/heparin molecule of approximately 20,000 MW with a binding affinity to splenocytes of approximately 5 X 10(-8) M. Additional binding inhibition studies indicated two possible binding sites for splenic GAGs on the splenocyte surface, one being fully inhibited by a range of SPS such as heparin (both coagulant and anticoagulant forms), pentosan sulphate, fucoidan, dextran sulphate, lambda- and iota-carrageenan, and the second being partially inhibited by kappa-carrageenan. The possible relevance of these heparan sulphate/heparin receptors on splenocytes to lymphocyte positioning in vivo is discussed.     

Striatal implantation of GDNF releasing biodegradable microspheres promotes recovery of motor function in a partial model of Parkinson's disease

The recent identification of neurotrophic factors, such as the glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), acting on mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons, offers the possibility to stimulate the axonal regeneration of these cells which are affected in Parkinson's disease. Nevertheless, a safe and efficient GDNF delivery system that may be used in clinical trials is still lacking. We have developed GDNF-releasing microspheres capable of releasing the neurotrophic factor for at least 2 months in vivo. In this study we demonstrate that these microspheres, when implanted in the brains of 'Parkinsonian' rats, were well tolerated, and were able to induce sprouting of the preserved dopaminergic fibers with synaptogenesis. Moreover, this neural regeneration was accompanied by functional improvement. The implantation of GDNF-releasing microspheres could be a promising strategy in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.     

GDNF and GFRalpha1 promote formation of neuronal synapses by ligand-induced cell adhesion

The establishment of synaptic connections requires precise alignment of pre- and postsynaptic terminals. The glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) receptor GFRalpha1 is enriched at pre- and postsynaptic compartments in hippocampal neurons, suggesting that it has a function in synapse formation. GDNF triggered trans-homophilic binding between GFRalpha1 molecules and cell adhesion between GFRalpha1-expressing cells. This represents the first example of a cell-cell interaction being mediated by a ligand-induced cell adhesion molecule (LICAM). In the presence of GDNF, ectopic GFRalpha1 induced localized presynaptic differentiation in hippocampal neurons, as visualized by clustering of vesicular proteins and neurotransmitter transporters, and by activity-dependent vesicle recycling. Presynaptic differentiation induced by GDNF was markedly reduced in neurons lacking GFRalpha1. Gdnf mutant mice showed reduced synaptic localization of presynaptic proteins and a marked decrease in the density of presynaptic puncta, indicating a role for GDNF signaling in hippocampal synaptogenesis in vivo. We propose that GFRalpha1 functions as a LICAM to establish precise synaptic contacts and induce presynaptic differentiation.     

Macromolecular Properties of Glycosaminoglycans in Primary AL Amyloid Fibril Extracts of Lymphoid Tissue Origin

We have previously demonstrated the presence of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in water extracts of secondary AA amyloid fibrils. In the present study we isolated significant quantities of GAGs from fibril extracts of immunoglobulin light chain (AL) type derived from the spleens from two patients afflicted with primary amyloidosis. Employing ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration subsequent to various specific chemical and enzymatic treatments, different types of high molecular weight GAGs were found in both preparations, but not in the corresponding normal splenic extracts. The amyloid-associated GAGs of the extracts derived from one patient consisted of 60% dermatan sulphate and 40% heparan sulphate whereas those obtained from the second spleen were 25% dermatan sulphate and 75% heparan sulphate. The heparan sulphate fraction occurred in the form of proteoglycans, whereas the dermatan sulphate apparently occurred as free GAG chains, resembling the data recently obtained from AA amyloid fibril extracts.     

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in Purkinje cells of adult zebrafish: An autocrine mode of action?

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has a neuroprotective role in Purkinje cells of cerebellum, promoting the survival and the differentiation of these cells. Its signalling is mediated by a receptorial complex GFRalpha1/RET. In the brain of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) we previously investigated GDNF expression and localization, but no data exist regarding GFRalpha1 and RET presence. Thus, the present study was designed to clarify the morphological relation between GDNF and its receptorial complex GFRalpha1/RET immunoreactivity in the cerebellum of adult zebrafish. The expression of gdnf, GFRalpha1 and ret genes was demonstrated in adult zebrafish cerebellum by a standard RT-PCR. The distribution of GDNF and its receptorial complex GFRalpha1/RET was examined by single and double immunocytochemical stainings. In the valvula and corpus cerebelli GDNF, GFRalpha1 and RET immunoreactivity was seen co-localized in Purkinje cells, identified morphologically and by using an antiserum against a specific marker for these cells, aldolase C enzyme. In the vestibulolateralis lobe, Purkinje neurons were lacking in both the eminentiae granulares and medial caudal lobe. These results demonstrated the expression of the GDNF receptorial complex in adult zebrafish cerebellum and suggest an autocrine mode of action of GDNF in Purkinje cells.     

Acidic oligosaccharide sugar chain, a marine-derived oligosaccharide, activates human glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor signaling

Gial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) modulates neuronal cell differentiation during development and protects against neurodegeneration by preventing apoptosis at maturity. GDNF's role in tissue maintenance has generated interest in the therapeutic potential of GDNF in treating neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Heparan sulfate has been shown to be essential for GDNF signaling and altering the levels of heparan sulfate promotes or inhibits GDNF functional activity. To search for other oligosaccharides capable of modulating GDNF activity as potential therapeutic molecules, we investigated the effect of acidic oligosaccharide sugar chain (AOSC) and its sulfated derivative on GDNF induced neurotrophic events by using Western-blotting, immunofluorescence cell staining, and immunoprecipitation techniques in PC12 cells expressing the GDNF receptors GFR alpha 1-Ret. AOSC significantly improved the neurite outgrowth and activated c-Ret phosphorylation in PC12-GFR alpha 1-Ret cells, but its sulfated derivative inhibited GDNF activity. Studies to understand the opposing biological effects of AOSC and its sulfated derivative on GDNF activity demonstrated that reduced GDNF binding to PC12-GFR alpha 1-Ret cell surface in the presence of the sulfated derivative likely suppressed GDNF activity as both AOSC and its sulfated derivatives had similar binding affinities to GDNF. This study illustrates the importance of oligosaccharide structure and charge on influencing GDNF activity and the potential use of oligosaccharides in modulating GDNF activity for therapeutic purposes.     

A human monoclonal IgM with autoantibody activities against heparan sulphate and the mitotic spindle.

A monoclonal IgM kappa from a patient with Waldenström''s macroglobulinaemia (IgM-Rod) was found to react at temperatures below 28 degrees C with all tissue basement membranes and the cell coat of non-haematopoietic cells. IgM-Rod antibody was directed against heparan sulphate side chains of heparan sulphate proteoglycans as shown by binding in a solid-phase ELISA to heparan sulphate glycosaminoglycans but not to other purified subcomponents of the extracellular matrix; and by specific inhibition of the observed reactivity by heparitinase treatment. IgM-Rod showed cross-reactivity by indirect immunofluorescence with an as yet unidentified structure expressed in the nucleus during cell division and becoming associated with the mitotic spindle apparatus. The co-existence of both binding activities for heparan sulphate and nuclei determinants in the same IgM molecule was deduced from adsorption-elution experiments and from the inhibitory effect of a mouse monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody directed against the paratope of IgM-Rod.     

Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein Modulation of Immune/Autoimmune, Vascular, and Coagulation Systems

Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) is plasma glycoprotein that has a multidomain structure, interacts with many ligands, and exhibit many modulatory functions in diverse biological systems. HRG ligands include Zn2+, tropomyosin, heparin and heparan sulphate, plasminogen, plasmin, fibrinogen, thrombospondin, IgG, FcgR, and complement. In many cases, the histidine-rich region of the molecule enhances ligand binding after interaction with Zn2+ or exposure to low pH, conditions associated with sites of tissue injury or tumor growth. The multidomain nature of HRG and diverse ligand binding properties indicates that it can act as an extracellular adaptor protein, bridging together different ligands mainly on cell surfaces. Apart from cell surface molecules, HRG can differentially target IgG, preventing generation of insoluble immune complexes. HRG binds to most cells primarily via heparan sulphate proteoglycans. HRG can enhance clearance of apoptotic and necrotic phagocytes as well as immune complexes. The anti-angiogenic properties of HRG are well established in vitro and in vivo. HRG can modulate other physiological processes such as cell adhesion and migration, fibrinolysis and coagulation, complement activation. This review presents an update on the molecular, structural, biological, and clinical properties of HRG and associated autoimmunity conditions.     

逆转录病毒载体ex vivo途径表达TH和GDNF基因

为了通过逆转录病毒载体 ex vivo途径高效表达 TH和 GDNF基因。本实验构建有 TH和 GDNF基因的重组逆转录病毒载体 p LHCX/TH和 p L NCX2 /GDNF,分别转染包装细胞 PA3 17和 PT67中 ;经筛选、RT-PCR、免疫组化等鉴定得到产毒细胞 PA3 17/TH和 PT67/GDNF。培养 COS-7细胞 ,以两种产毒细胞的上清分别感染 COS-7细胞 ,筛选后 ,免疫组化、原位杂交检测基因的表达量 ,将基因改造的细胞移植到大鼠纹状体内 ,免疫组化检测体内移植的 TH、GDNF基因的表达。结果表明 :TH和GDNF基因可在靶细胞表达 ,且筛选后基因表达阳性细胞显著增加 ;TH阳性率达 5 0 % ,GDNF阳性率达 70 %。在体内实验中 ,可以观察到这两种外源基因可同时在大鼠脑内移植区表达。以上结果提示 ,TH和 GDNF基因改造细胞 ,可通过 ex vivo途径在脑内移植区高效表达。这一实验结果将对 Parkinson病复合性基因治疗提供依据     

Heparitinase treatment of rat embryos during cranial neurulation

Summary Heparan sulphate has been reported to be present in rat embryos. It is covalently linked to a core protein as heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG). Heparitinase specifically degrades heparan sulphate, thus treatment of rat embryos with this enzyme in vitro should result in the perturbation of any tissue interactions which involve heparan sulphate proteoglycan. In this study heparitinase was either added to the culture medium or microinjected directly into the amniotic cavity.Heparitinase treatment resulted in abnormal development of the whole embryo, but the earliest effects were observed in the cranial region. Forebrain development was grossly abnormal: the neural folds remained widely open, with beak-like outgrowths rostrally. Optic sulci failed to develop. The midbrain and rostral hindbrain neural folds also remained widely open. In the trunk, where the pattern of neurulation is less complex than in the cranial region, rostral neural tube closure did occur although the morphology of the closed region was far from normal. These results suggest that heparan sulphate proteoglycan is essential for normal neurulation.Epithelial somite formation was perturbed, but neural crest cell emigration, otic pit formation and pharyngeal arch formation, all important morphogenetic events which occur during this period of development, were not inhibited by heparitinase treatment. Prolonged (44h) exposure to the enzyme resulted in the conversion of the embryonic structure to a much simpler form: mesenchymal cells (stellate or spindle-shaped) enclosed within a simple epithelial coating.     

AA glomerular amyloid. An ultrastructural immunogold study of the colocalization of heparan sulphate proteoglycan and P component with amyloid fibrils together with changes in distribution of type IV collagen and fibronectin

An ultrastructural investigation was undertaken on paraformaldehyde-fixed Lowicryl resin-embedded human kidneys of three patients with AA amyloidosis to investigate the association of various basement membrane components with amyloid fibrils. An immunogold technique was used and antibodies to serum amyloid A, heparan sulphate proteoglycan, type IV collagen, P component, and fibronectin were applied to human normal and amyloid glomeruli. The amyloid was identified as AA, and P component was shown to be intimately associated with the fibrils. In addition, heparan sulphate proteoglycan was associated with amyloid in all subendothelial, subepithelial and intramembranous glomerular basement membrane deposits, and those throughout the mesangial matrix. This contrasted with the distribution of the proteoglycan in the normal glomerulus where it was found predominantly on the epithelial aspect of the basement membrane and only in the more peripheral regions of the mesangium. The accumulation of heparan sulphate proteoglycan with amyloid resulted in a marked increase in its amount in the glomeruli. The amyloid deposits contained little or no type IV collagen or fibronectin. These findings demonstrate a strong association of heparan sulphate proteoglycan with amyloid and suggest different roles for the various glomerular basement membrane components in amyloidogenesis.     

Comparative study on Lewis lung tumour lines with ‘low’ and ‘high’ metastatic capacity III. Glycosaminoglycan synthesis,transport and degradation in cell lines

The glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of low (LM) and highly metastatic (HM) cell lines of the Lewis lung tumour (3LL) were compared using [³H]glucosamine labelling techniques. The GAGs isolated from nuclei, cytoplasm, pericellular fractions and medium were analysed by cellulose acetate electrophoresis and by digestion with specific enzymes, and the following conclusions were drawn. 1. Increased cellular uptake and incorporation of [³H]glucosamine into glycoconjugates of the cytoplasm was a typical feature of the highly metastatic cell line after a 48-h labelling. However, there was no elevated radioactivity in glycolipids. 2. Radioactivity of the purified GAGs was two and three times higher in nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions of HM cells than in those of LM cells. There was much less difference between the two cell lines in the pericellular fractions. 3. A definite change from chondroitin sulphate to dermatan sulphate dominancy was recorded in each GAG fraction. Higher heparan sulphate labelling was observed in the cytoplasmic and pericellular GAGs of HM cultures. 4. In the post-labelling period about three times more GAG was present in the extracellular compartment of the HM cultures compared with the LM cultures. 5. In the LM cultures the total GAG-associated radioactivity decreased by 73 per cent in the 48-h chase period whereas in the HM cultures it decreased by only 30 per cent. This indicates a higher rate of GAG degradation in the LM cultures.Abbreviations GAG glycosaminoglycan - 3LL Lewis lung tumour - HM highly metastatic - LM low metastatic - FCS foetal calf serum - PBS phosphatebuffered saline - HP heparin - HS heparan sulphate - HA hyaluronic acid - CS chondroitin sulphate - DS dermatan sulphate - PCA perchloric acid - TCA trichloroacetic acid - CPC cetylpyridinium chloride - E extracellular - P pericellular - C cellular - CY cytoplasmic - N nuclear compartment - ECM extracellular matrix     

Hypoxia in fibroblast cultures. 2. Influence of pH on the distribution pattern of acid mucopolysaccharides.

Secondary cultures of embryonic rat fibroblasts [NEUPERT et al., Exp. Path. 7, 19-28 (1972)] were cultured in 21% and 5% O2 concentration at pH 6.6 and 7.4 for 6 or 8 days. The acid mucopolysaccharides were isolated and fractionated by alcohol precipitation, papain digestion, CPC-precipitation and fractionation after the microtechniques of SVEJCAR and ROBERTSON [see KITTLICK and NEUPERT, Exp. Path. 7, 7-18 (1972)]. Cells and medium were investigated together. The results were related to cell density and compared with the glucose and lactate values [see KITTLICK and NEUPERT, Exp. Path. 10, 109-114 (1975)]. Concerning the question of interrelations of MPS-synthesis and glycolysis a survey on literature is given. Our own test results were as follows: 1. Hypoxia (5% O2) did not influence MPS-total synthesis. 2. Depending on cell density the individual MPS fractions were different in their reaction to hypoxia. 3. Hyaluronic acid (and heparan sulphate) in the MPS-pattern showed other behaviour than chondroitin sulphate and dermatan sulphate, respectively. 4. At low cell density hypoxia effectuated increase in hyaluronic acid and decrease in chondroitin sulphate and dermatan sulphate, respectively. 5. At high cell density hypoxia effectuated decrease in hyaluronic acid and increase in chondroitin sulphate and dermatan sulphate, respectively. Possible relationship to processes in the tissue is discussed.     

Cell surface heparan sulfate promotes replication of Toxoplasma gondii

Previous work suggests that cell surface heparan sulfate acts as a receptor for the Apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Using Chinese hamster ovary cell mutants defective in heparan sulfate biosynthesis, we show that heparan sulfate is necessary and sufficient for infectivity. Further, we demonstrate that the parasite requires N sulfation of heparan sulfate initiated by N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase-1, but 2-O sulfation and 6-O sulfation appear to be dispensable. In order to study the role of heparan sulfate in other cell types, we created a conditional allele for N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase-1 by using Cre-loxP technology. Mammary tumor cells lacking N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase-1 exhibited reduced toxoplasma infectivity like Chinese hamster ovary cell mutants. Surprisingly, heparin, chemically modified heparinoids, and monoclonal antibodies to heparan sulfate had no effect on toxoplasma infection. T. gondii attachment and invasion were unchanged in N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase-1-inactivated cells as well, but replication was reduced. Thus, heparan sulfate does not appear to function as a receptor for T. gondii but instead facilitates parasite replication postinvasion.