The effect of hypoxia on the synthesis of collagen and glycosaminoglycans by cultured pig aortic endothelium.
Porcine aortic endothelium cultured at 20% oxygen concentration synthesizes collagen and three of its marker enzymes - proline and lysine hydroxylases and lysine oxidase, the cross-link enzyme. It also synthesizes and secretes hyaluronic acid, dermatan sulphate, possibly heparan sulphate, large amounts of chondroitin 4-sulphate and smaller amounts of chondroitin 6-sulphate. Growth of these cells for 24 h in 0%, or 2% oxygen results in little change in cell numbers or cell protein but a fall in collagen synthesis and in proline and lysine hydroxylases, but a rise in lysine oxidase. There is a considerable increase in synthesis and secretion of all the glycosaminoglycans found. The cell lipids appear qualitatively unchanged. Apart from increased lysosomes seen at 0% oxygen, no ultrastructural changes appear to occur. These findings illustrate the lability of the endothelial response to oxygen lack.