Biomedical subjects

S E Stringer

Publications and source records attributed to S E Stringer.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

The splice variants of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and their receptors.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a secreted mitogen highly specific for cultured endothelial cells. In vivo VEGF induces microvascular permeability and plays a central role in both angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. VEGF is a promising target for therapeutic intervention in certain pathological conditions that are angiogenesis dependent, most notably the neovascularisation of growing tumours. Through alternative mRNA splicing, a single gene gives rise to several distinct isoforms of VEGF, which differ in their expression patterns as well as their biochemical and biological properties. Two VEGF receptor tyrosine kinases (VEGFRs) have been identified, VEGFR-1 (Flt-1) and VEGFR-2 (KDR/Flk-1). VEGFR-2 seems to mediate almost all observed endothelial cell responses to VEGF, whereas roles for VEGFR-1 are more elusive. VEGFR-1 might act predominantly as a ligand-binding molecule, sequestering VEGF from VEGFR-2 signalling. Several isoform-specific VEGF receptors exist that modulate VEGF activity. Neuropilin-1 acts as a co-receptor for VEGF(165), enhancing its binding to VEGFR-2 and its bioactivity. Heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs), as well as binding certain VEGF isoforms, interact with both VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2. HSPGs have a wide variety of functions, such as the ability to partially restore lost function to damaged VEGF(165) and thereby prolonging its biological activity.

Alternative Splicing↗

PubMed1999

Heparin is a unique marker of progenitors in the glial cell lineage.

The oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte progenitor cells (precursors of oligodendrocytes and type-2 astrocytes) are an excellent system in which to study differentiation as they can be manipulated in vitro. Maintenance of oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte progenitor cells requires basic fibroblast growth factor, a growth factor whose action normally depends on a heparan sulfate coreceptor. Biochemical analysis revealed a most surprising result: that the oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte progenitors did not synthesize heparan sulfate, the near ubiquitous N-sulfated cell surface polysaccharide, but the chemically related heparin in a form that was almost completely N- and O-sulfated. The heparin was detected in the pericellular fraction of the cells and the culture medium. In contrast the differentiated glial subpopulations (oligodendrocytes and type-2 astrocytes) synthesized typical heparan sulfate but with distinctive fine structural features for each cell type. Thus heparin is a unique differentiation marker in the glial lineage. Previously heparin has been found only in a subset of mature mast cells called the connective tissue mast cells. Its presence within the developing nervous system on a precise population of progenitors may confer specific and essential recognition properties on those cells in relation to binding soluble growth and/or differentiation factors and the extracellular matrix.

Animals↗

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

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↗