Metabolism of sulfated glycosaminoglycans in cultured endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells from bovine aorta.

The glycosaminoglycan metabolism of cultured endothelial cells and of cells grown from the intima and from the media layer of bovine aorta thoracia was investigated in a comparative study. The following results were obtained: 1. Endothelial cells have in common with intima and media cells the distribution of newly formed sulfated glycosaminoglycans into extracellular, pericellular and intracellular compartments. Endothelial cells, however, synthesize lower amounts of glycosaminoglycans and distribute them in a different ratio into the three pools. 2. Though all the various cell lines synthesize chondroitin 4-sulfate, chondroitin 6-sulfate, dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate and small amounts of keratan sulfate, endothelial cells exhibit a unique distribution pattern of sulfated glycosaminoglycans in each of the three compartments. Generally, a high proportion of heparan sulfate and chondroitin 6-sulfate and a very low dermatan sulfate content was detected. 3. Heparan sulfate produced by endothelial cells has a higher N-sulfonate content when compared with that from other sources. The cell membrane-associated heparan sulfate, especially, exhibits some heparin-like features as judged by nitrous acid degradation and susceptibility towards heparitinase.