Ascorbate-induced changes in gangliosides of calf aortic smooth muscle cells in culture: possible influence of extracellular matrix.

The ganglioside composition of calf aortic smooth muscle cells, cultured in the presence and absence of ascorbate, was analyzed. Previous work has shown that ascorbate supplementation leads to the formation of an extracellular matrix consisting primarily of collagen and that this matrix influences the biosynthetic capabilities of the cell. Cell cultures were supplemented with ascorbate for 3 wk and labeled with [14C]glucosamine for 3 d before harvesting. Ascorbate supplementation resulted in increased ganglioside sialic acid levels and a change in chromatographic profile involving both absolute and relative increases in GD1a. The latter, along with polysialo species, showed increased incorporation of [14C]glucosamine. These findings are interpreted in relation to the proposed role of gangliosides as mediators in the interaction of various cells with extracellular matrix.