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Biomedical subjects

J T Gallagher

Publications and source records attributed to J T Gallagher.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor has distinct classes of binding site in heparan sulfate from mammary cells.

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is a heparan sulfate (HS)-binding growth factor and morphogen for mammary epithelial cells that is produced by mammary stromal fibroblasts. HS chains, purified as peptidoglycans from a panel of cell lines representative of the ductal epithelial cell (Huma 123), the myoepithelial cell (Huma 109), the stromal fibroblast (Rama 27), and malignant mammary epithelial cells (MCF-7 and ZR-75), were used in a biosensor-based assay to identify the classes of HGF/SF-binding sites in the polysaccharide chains. At least three distinct binding sites were identified. One site exhibits fast association and fast dissociation kinetics [kass (1.4-7.7) x 10(6) M-1 s-1; kdiss 0. 0032-0.0096 s-1] and is present on the HS from benign Huma 123 epithelial cells, Huma 109 myoepithelial-like cells, and ZR-75 malignant cells. The second binding site, found on HS from the malignant MCF-7 cells, has slower HGF/SF-binding kinetics (kass 0.20 x 10(6) M-1 s-1; kdiss 0.00055 s-1). The third binding site possesses fast association and slow dissociation kinetics (kass 1.1 x 10(6) M-1 s-1; kdiss 0.00020 s-1) and was found on the HS isolated from the culture medium of the Huma 123 benign epithelial cells. The first and second binding sites have a similar Kd, 1-3 nM, while the third binding site has a considerably higher affinity for HGF/SF (Kd 200 pM). The three binding sites seem to be mutually exclusive, since each sample of HS possessed just one of the sites.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Interaction of heparan sulfate from mammary cells with acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and basic FGF. Regulation of the activity of basic FGF by high and low affinity binding sites in heparan sulfate.

We have determined the relationship between the binding sites for acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) and basic FGF (bFGF) in heparan sulfate (HS) prepared from a panel of mammary cell lines and the ability of the HS to activate aFGF and bFGF in DNA synthesis assays. The ka of the HS for aFGF fell into three groups, whereas the kd (0.0015-0.016 s-1) and the Kd (0.4-8.6 microM) formed a continuum. bFGF possessed a high affinity binding site (Kd 22-30 nM) with a fast ka (320,000-550,000 M-1 s-1), termed "fast/high," and a lower affinity site (Kd 47-320 nM) with a slower ka (35,000-150,000 M-1 s-1), termed "slow/low." Most of the species of HS possessed the latter binding site, which was able to activate bFGF in HS-deficient fibroblasts. However, the HS from the culture medium of the mammary fibroblasts and the myoepithelial-like cells possessed both a fast/high and a slow/low binding site and could not activate bFGF, although it could potentiate the growth-stimulatory activity of aFGF. Treatment of the HS possessing two binding sites for bFGF with heparitinase 1 released oligosaccharides that were able to restore the activity of bFGF in HS-deficient fibroblasts.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Structural modification of fibroblast growth factor-binding heparan sulfate at a determinative stage of neural development.

Heparan sulfate (HS) glycosaminoglycans are essential modulators of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) activity and appear to act by coupling particular forms of FGF to appropriate FGF receptors. During neural development, one particular HS proteoglycan is able to rapidly switch its potentiating activity from FGF-2, as neural precursor cell proliferation occurs, to FGF-1, as neuronal differentiation occurs. Using various analytical techniques, including chemical and enzymatic cleavage, low pressure chromatography, and strong anion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography, we have analyzed the different HSs expressed during these crucial developmental stages. There are distinct alterations in patterns of 6-O-sulfation, total chain length, and the number of sulfated domains of the HS from the more mature embryonic brain. These changes correlate with a switch in the ability of the HS to potentiate the actions of FGF-1 in triggering cell differentiation. It thus appears that each HS pool is designed to function in the modulation of an intricate interaction with a specific growth factor and its cognate receptor, and suggests tightly regulated expression of specific, bioactive disaccharide sequences. The data can be used to construct a simple model of controlled variations in HS chain structure which have functional consequences at a crucial stage of neuronal maturation.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor binds with high affinity to dermatan sulfate.

We have demonstrated by affinity chromatography that hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) binds strongly to dermatan sulfate (DS), with a similar ionic strength dependence to that previously seen with heparan sulfate (HS). Analysis of binding kinetics on a biosensor yields an equilibrium dissociation constant, KD, of 19.7 nM. This corresponds to a 10-100-fold weaker interaction than that with HS, primarily due to a faster dissociation rate of the complex. The smallest DS oligosaccharide with significant affinity for HGF/SF by affinity chromatography appears to be an octasaccharide. A sequence comprising unsulfated iduronate residues in combination with 4-O-sulfated N-acetylgalactosamine is sufficient for high affinity binding. The presence of 2-O-sulfation on the iduronate residues does not appear to be inhibitory. These observations concur with our previous suggestions, from analyses of HS binding (Lyon, M., Deakin, J. A., Mizuno, K., Nakamura, T., and Gallagher, J.T. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 11216-11223), that N-sulfation of hexosamines and 2-O-sulfation of iduronates are not absolute requirements for glycosaminoglycan binding to HGF/SF. This is the first described example of a high affinity interaction between a growth factor and DS, and is likely to have significant implications for the biological activity of this paracrine-acting factor.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1998

Heparan sulfate undergoes specific structural changes during the progression from human colon adenoma to carcinoma in vitro.

We report a detailed analysis of heparan sulfate (HS) structure using a model of human colon carcinogenesis. Metabolically radiolabeled HS was isolated from adenoma and carcinoma cells. The chain length of HS was the same in both cell populations (Mr 20,000; 45-50 disaccharides), and the chains contained on average of two sulfated domains (S domains), identified by heparinase I scission. This enzyme produced fragments of approximate size 7 kDa, suggesting that the S domains were evenly spaced in the intact HS chain. The degree of polymer sulfation and the patterns of sulfation were strikingly different between the two HS species. When compared with adenoma HS, the iduronic acid 2-O-sulfate content of the carcinoma-derived material was reduced by 33%, and the overall level of N-sulfation was reduced by 20%. However, the level of 6-O-sulfation was increased by 24%, and this was almost entirely attributable to an enhanced level of N-sulfated glucosamine 6-O-sulfate, a species whose data implied was mainly located in the mixed sequences of alternating N-sulfated and N-acetylated disaccharides. The results indicate that in the transition to malignancy in human colon adenoma cells, the overall molecular organization of HS is preserved, but there are distinct modifications in both the S domains and their flanking mixed domains that may contribute to the aberrant behavior of the cancer cell.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1998

Structural comparison of fibroblast growth factor-specific heparan sulfates derived from a growing or differentiating neuroepithelial cell line.

Heparan sulfate (HS) glycosaminoglycans are essential modulators of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) activity both in vivo and in vitro, and appear to act by cross-linking particular forms of FGF to appropriate FGF receptors. We have recently isolated and characterized two separate HS pools derived from immortalized embryonic day 10 mouse neuroepithelial 2.3D cells: one from cells in log growth phase, which greatly potentiates the activity of FGF-2, and the other from cells undergoing contact-inhibition and differentiation, which preferentially activates FGF-1. These two pools of HS have very similar functional activities to those species isolated from primary neuroepithelial cells at corresponding stages of active proliferation or differentiation. We present here a structural comparison between these cell line HS species to establish the nature of the changes that occur in the biosynthesis of HS. A combination of chemical and enzymatic cleavage, low pressure chromatography and strong anion-exchange HPLC were used to generate full chain models of each species. Overall, the HS pools synthesized in the dividing cell line pools possessed less complex sulfation than those derived from more differentiated, growth arrested cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Influence of interleukin-3 and other growth factors on alpha4beta1 integrin-mediated adhesion and migration of human hematopoietic progenitor cells.

The mechanisms by which hematopoietic progenitor cells are normally anchored in stromal niches and yet can be mobilized by specific growth factors are poorly understood. It is likely, however, that integrins and their extracellular matrix (ECM) ligands play a key role in this process, and recent evidence suggests that integrin function is modulated by signals originating from activated growth factor receptors. We have now examined this further by studying the role of growth factors on alpha4beta1 integrin-mediated adhesion of human CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells to specific recombinant fibronectin fragments coated onto tissue culture dishes. Cells were prepared from cord blood and peripheral blood harvests. During a 30-minute adhesion assay a mean of 74% of CD34 cells attached to the so-called H120 fragment of fibronectin, which contains the strongest alpha4beta1 integrin-binding sequence. The level of cell adhesion was significantly reduced by low concentrations of interleukin-3 (IL-3) (2.5 to 10 ng/mL), whereas stem cell factor (SCF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) at these concentrations did not affect adherence of the cells. Migratory behavior of CD34 cells was examined using fibronectin fragments adsorbed onto a Transwell filter. The H120 fragment supported much higher levels of cell migration than the H0 fragment of fibronectin, which contains a weak alpha4beta1 integrin binding sequence. Over a 16-hour assay, migration of peripheral blood progenitor cells was increased slightly by SCF and by G-CSF. However, a marked stimulation was observed with IL-3, which significantly increased migration. Similar effects were noted with cord blood cells, although a small proportion of cells were able to migrate in the absence of growth factors. These results indicate that there is a highly selective and functional link between the alpha4beta1 integrin and IL-3/IL-3-receptor that could affect the position of stem and progenitor cells in the marrow stroma and influence their growth and development.

Antigens, CD34↗
PubMed1997

Specific binding of the chemokine platelet factor 4 to heparan sulfate.

Platelet factor 4 is a tetrameric heparin binding chemokine released from the alpha-granules of activated platelets. In this study we show that platelet factor 4 binds with high affinity and specificity to an approximately 9-kDa sequence in heparan sulfate, which it protects from degradation by heparinase enzymes. This protected fragment is enriched in N-sulfated disaccharides and iduronate 2-O-sulfate residues, the latter being important for binding to platelet factor 4. The major structural motif of the fragment appears to consist of a pair of sulfated domains positioned at both ends separated by a central mainly N-acetylated region. On the basis of these findings, we propose a model in which the heparan sulfate fragment wraps around the ring of positive charges on platelet factor 4 with the iduronate 2-O-sulfates within the sulfated domains binding strongly to lysine clusters on opposite faces of the tetramer.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1997

The interaction of the transforming growth factor-betas with heparin/heparan sulfate is isoform-specific.

We have undertaken a comparative study of the interaction of the three mammalian transforming growth factor-betas (TGF-beta) with heparin and heparan sulfate. TGF-beta1 and -beta2, but not -beta3, bind to heparin and the highly sulfated liver heparan sulfate. These polysaccharides potentiate the biological activity of TGF-beta1 (but not the other isoforms), whereas a low sulfated mucosal heparan sulfate fails to do so. Potentiation is due to antagonism of the binding and inactivation of TGF-beta1 by alpha2-macroglobulin, rather than by modulation of growth factor-receptor interactions. TGF-beta2.alpha2-macroglobulin complexes are more refractory to heparin/heparan sulfate, and those involving TGF-beta3 cannot be affected. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of the TGF-beta isoforms strongly implicates the basic amino acid residue at position 26 of each monomer as being a vital binding determinant. A model is proposed in which polysaccharide binding occurs at two distinct sites on the TGF-beta dimer. Interaction with heparin and liver heparan sulfate may be most effective because of the ability of the dimer to co-operatively engage two specific sulfated binding sequences, separated by a distance of approximately seven disaccharides, within the same chain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Heparan sulphate.

Heparan sulphates, the N-sulphated polysaccharides components of proteoglycans, are common constituents of cell surfaces and the extracellular matrix. The heparan sulphate polysaccharide chain has a unique molecular design in the which the clusters of N- and O-sulphated sugar residues, separated by regions of low sulphation, determine specific protein binding properties. The heparan sulphate chains are attached to various protein cores, which determine the location of the proteoglycan in the cell membrane and extracellular matrix. The diverse functions of heparan sulphate, which range from the control of blood coagulation to the regulation of cell growth and adhesion, depend on the capacity of the chains to activate protein ligands, such as antithrombin III and members of the fibroblast growth factor family. These properties are currently being exploited in the development of synthetic heparan sulphates as anticoagulants and promoters of wound healing. Conversely organic mimics of growth factor activating saccharides could possibly be designed to suppress tumour growth and prevent restenosis after coronary vessel angioplasty.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Heparin oligosaccharides: inhibitors of the biological activity of bFGF on Caco-2 cells.

A number of growth factors, including members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family - hepatocyte growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor - are dependent on heparan sulphate (HS) for biological activity mediated through their high-affinity signal-transducing receptors. This obligate requirement for HS prompted the search for antagonists of HS function that could be used as anti-growth factor drugs for the treatment of cancer. Basic FGF (bFGF) was the focus of this study. Caco-2, a human colon carcinoma cell line, was adapted to growth in serum-free medium so that investigation of its growth factor requirements for growth and migration could be performed in defined conditions (Jayson GC, Evans GS, Pemberton PW, Lobley RW, Allen T 1994, Cancer Res, 54, 5718-5723). This cell line multiplied and moved in a dose-dependent manner in response to bFGF. Here, we show that the mitogenic response to bFGF is dependent on the presence of heparan sulphate. A library of heparin oligosaccharides with uniform composition but variable length was generated [general formula [IdoA(2S)-GlcNS(6S)n], and oligosaccharides of defined lengths were tested for their ability to inhibit the biological activity of bFGF. While intact heparin and heparin-derived fragments of 12 monosaccharide units did not affect bFGF-induced cell division or bFGF-induced cell migration, octasaccharides and decasaccharides potently inhibited the bFGF-induced growth and migration responses. In particular, octasaccharides completely inhibited these biological activities at 10 microg ml-, a clinically achievable and tolerable concentration. This study shows that the length of an oligosaccharide determines its ability to block the biological activity of bFGF. The observation that the biological activity of cell-surface heparan sulphate can be antagonized in this way in a human carcinoma cell line suggests that oligosaccharides should be investigated further as anti-growth factor agents for the treatment of cancer. In addition, the results suggest that the clinical evaluation of low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) as an anti-cancer agent might benefit from subfractionation of the LMWH, to remove oligosaccharides of 12 or more residues.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Structure-activity relationship of heparan sulphate.

HS influences fundamental cellular properties and biochemical processes at the cell surface. In addition to the issues already discussed, it has a profound effect on cell adhesion and migration through its interaction with many extracellular matrix proteins, most notably fibronectin and thrombospondin; it is closely linked to lipid metabolism through its capacity to bind low-density lipoprotein and lipoprotein lipase; and aberrations in HS structure and degradation are linked to human malignancy and Alzheimer's disease [26,27]. The subtle variations in HS structure enable it to distinguish between families of related proteins such as the FGFs, the chemokines [28] and the TGF beta s [29]. The multifunctional nature of HS is the result of its structural diversity and strategic positioning in the pericellular domain. The biosynthesis of HS, in common with other complex carbohydrates, is not directed by any known template yet the system is clearly subject to quite precise control so that in general, the HS family has a common domain organization that is finely tuned at the cellular level to produce HS species of variable length, fine structure and biological properties. A major challenge for future research will be to unravel the regulatory mechanisms that determine the molecular structure of HS. It remains unclear whether these mechanisms are entirely intrinsic in nature or subject to substantial modulation by the cellular microenvironment.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1996

Structural domains of heparan sulphate for specific recognition of the C-terminal heparin-binding domain of human plasma fibronectin (HEPII).

Heparan sulphate (HS) is an abundant polysaccharide component of the pericellular domain and is found in most soft tissues and all adherent cells in culture. It interacts with a wide spectrum of proteins including polypeptide growth factors and glycoproteins of the extracellular matrix. These interactions might influence fundamental cellular activities such as adhesion, growth and migration. HS might therefore represent a highly adaptive mechanism by which cells respond to their environment. The present study shows that the interaction between fibroblast HS, metabolically labelled with [3H]glucosamine, and the C-terminal heparin-binding domain of human plasma fibronectin (HEPII), is determined by distinct regions of the polysaccharide chain. By using a very sensitive affinity-chromatography method and specific polysaccharide scission it was shown that the HEPII-binding regions of HS reside within sulphated domains that are resistant to degradation by heparinase III. In addition, optimal binding was achieved with specific heparinase III-resistant fragments of 14-16 monosaccharides in length. The affinity of HS for HEPII was significantly decreased when the polysaccharide was cleaved with heparinase I. Chondroitin sulphate and dermatan sulphate were poor competitive inhibitors of [3H]HS binding to HEPII whereas unlabelled HS and heparin gave a strong inhibitory activity, with heparin being the most potent inhibitor. These findings suggest that the interaction between HEPII and HS is specific and requires extended sequences of seven to eight N-sulphated disaccharides in which a proportion of the iduronate residues are sulphated at C-2. The results have important implications for the functions of HS in cell adhesion and migration.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Molecular structure of heparan sulphate synthesised by bovine aortic endothelial cells.

The distribution and structure of heparan sulphate (HS) synthesised by bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) has been studied. Confluent cultures were harvested and analysed as three separate compartments: (a) the culture medium, (b) the detergent-soluble cell-associated material and (c) the detergent-insoluble matrix material extracted with 6 M urea. HS was present in all three of the culture compartments, but the molecular size of the HS proteoglycans (PG) and the free polysaccharide chains varied according to compartment origin. The matrix pool accounted for almost 50% of the total HS which was present as a large HSPG possessing polysaccharide chains of 79 kDa. When studied in more detail, these large HS chains displayed an N-sulphate content and distribution (determined by low pH nitrous acid treatment) similar to that seen in the majority of other mammalian heparan sulphates. Extended iduronate sequences were also identified (i.e., heparitinase-resistant sequences); however, apart from these regions, the degree of O-sulphation was relatively low. In addition, the presence of heparin-like sequences (GlcNSO3(+/- 6S)-IdoA(2S)), characterised by heparinase sensitivity, accounted for only 5% of the disaccharides and such sequences appeared to be located with an ordered distribution, mainly in relatively short sulphated domains within the intact molecule. Given the strategic location of the large matrix-associated HSPG within the BAEC system studied, it is conceivable that the HS structure may be important in a number of functions such as cell attachment processes and/or the binding of growth factors.

Animals↗