Sulfated glucuronyl paragloboside in rat brain microvessels.

In patients with neuropathy associated with paraproteinemia, there are monoclonal immunoglobulin M antibodies reacting with myelin-associated glycoprotein and sulfated glucuronyl glycolipids. There are indications that the monoclonal antibodies may be responsible for these neuropathies. However, the mechanism by which the antibodies gain access to the nervous tissue, which is separated by the blood-brain barrier or blood-nerve barrier, is still unknown. In this study, we examined the presence of the sulfated glucuronyl glycolipid antigens on brain endothelial cells. Microvessels were isolated from adult Lewis rat brain cortex. Sulfated glucuronyl paragloboside (SGPG) was detected in the acidic lipid fraction by a TLC immunostaining method. Immunofluorescence studies showed positive staining on the surface of microvessels. In addition, SGPG could be detected in the cultured endothelial cells of human umbilical vein. These findings suggest that the endothelial cells contain antigenic sites for interaction with the autoantibodies. This type of interaction may result in damages to the endothelial cell function and may be responsible for changes in the blood-brain barrier permeability and the ensuing penetration of large molecules, such as immunoglobulins, into the endoneurial space.

Phospholipid molecular species in human umbilical artery and vein endothelial cells.

Molecular species of several phospholipid classes and subclasses were quantitatively determined in human umbilical artery and vein endothelial cells. Both types of endothelial cells were similar in phospholipid class composition, whereas they were markedly different in phospholipid subclass and molecular species composition. The amounts of two ether subclasses in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were higher in artery endothelial cells than those in vein endothelial cells. The relative content of alkylacyl subclass in phosphatidylcholine, a precursor of platelet-activating factor, was about three times higher in artery endothelial cells than in vein endothelial cells. In artery endothelial cells, arachidonic acid was in highest amounts in alkenylacyl phosphatidylethanolamine, followed by diacyl phosphatidylcholine, diacyl phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol. In the vein endothelial cells, arachidonic acid was highest in phosphatidylinositol, followed by diacyl phosphatidylethanolamine, diacyl phosphatidylcholine, and alkenylacyl phosphatidylethanolamine. Artery endothelial cells had higher amounts of molecular species containing arachidonic acid than vein endothelial cells in all phospholipid classes and subclasses. These differences are thought to reflect the functional differences of artery and vein endothelial cells.

Isolation of the complementary DNA for human transcobalamin II.

A complementary DNA (cDNA) clone coding for transcobalamin II (TCII) has been isolated from a human umbilical vein endothelial cell cDNA library. The cDNA is 1.9 Kb and includes the nucleotide sequence which encodes the NH2-terminal 19 amino acids of human TCII. The size of the cDNA is sufficient to code for the entire protein and also contains the nucleotide sequence coding for a 24 amino acid leader peptide and a long untranslated 3' region. The availability of this cDNA will provide the opportunity to characterize genetic disorders of TCII.

Mammalian tissue distribution of a large heparan sulfate proteoglycan detected by monoclonal antibodies.

A panel of nine monoclonal antibodies has been characterized, all of which have reactivity with the core protein of a large heparan sulfate proteoglycan derived from the murine EHS tumor matrix. These rat monoclonal antibodies stained mouse basement membranes intensely, including those of all muscle, endothelia, peripheral nerve fibers and epithelia so far examined. In addition, two of the monoclonal antibodies show cross-species reactivity, staining bovine and human basement membranes, and immunoprecipitating proteoglycans from human endothelial cell cultures. These antibodies do not, however, cross-react with avian tissues. These results show the ubiquitous distribution of a heparan sulfate proteoglycan in mammalian tissues, which will be useful in vitro and in vivo for studies on the biology of basement membrane proteoglycans and investigations of possible roles of these molecules in human disease processes.

[Identification and characteristics of the beta-adrenergic receptors in the membranes of cultured endothelial cells of the human pulmonary artery]. / Identifikatsiia i kharakteristika beta-adrenergicheskikh retseptorov v membranakh kul'tiviruemykh kletok éndoteliia legochnoi arterii cheloveka.

The properties of beta-adrenoreceptors (beta-AR) have been studied in endothelial cells from the human pulmonary artery (EPA) and umbilical vein (EUV). [125I] Iodosyanopindolol binding assay revealed the amount of 22 and 12 fmol/10(6) cells as well as Kd = 92 and 52 pM for EPA and EUV, respectively. Adrenergic agonists increased the cAMP levels in EPA in the order of potency characteristic for beta 2-AR: isoproterenol greater than epinephrine greater than norepinephrine. Basing on the results obtained in the present study and the literature data a conclusion is made that the properties of beta-AR in vascular endothelial cells do not practically depend on their localization, suggesting universality of their function within the vascular system.

Fatty acid composition of umbilical arteries and veins: possible implications for the fetal EFA-status.

Fatty acid compositions were determined of phospholipids, isolated from umbilical arteries and veins, obtained from Dutch neonates after vaginal delivery, terminating normal pregnancy. The fatty acid profiles of the cord vessels were characterized by the absence of eicosapentaenoic (timnodonic) acid, a low (2-3%) content of linoleic acid and reasonable amounts of arachidonic acid (10-15%) and docosahexaenoic (cervonic) acid (3-5%). Significant amounts of Mead acid (1-4%) and its direct elongation product (0.5-2%) were also observed. In each cord, the efferent blood vessels contained significantly more Mead acid and other fatty acids of the oleic acid (n-9) family and less fatty acids of the linoleic (n-6) and linolenic (n-3) families than the afferent blood vessel. This indicates that the essential fatty acid (EFA) status of 'downstream' neonatal tissue may be marginal. No signs of EFA-deficiency were observed in endothelial and smooth muscle cells in culture, or in blood vessels from adults. In all cords 22:5(n-6) was significantly higher in the artery compared to the vein, whereas for all other (n-6) fatty acids this difference was negative. Since the synthesis of 22:5(n-6) is known to be stimulated when the required amount of cervonic acid, 22:6(n-3), is too low, our observations also suggest that the cervonic acid status of the neonates investigated was not optimal. Further studies are in progress to relate these findings to maternal EFA status and complications of pregnancy.

Reduction of hydroxyproline content in the vessels of the human umbilical cord in premature rupture.

The hydroxyproline content of the amnion and the umbilical vessels obtained from cases in which the fetal membranes were instrumentally or prematurely ruptured was assayed. Hydroxyproline concentration (in micrograms/mg) in the latter group was 23.76, 16.79 and 17.86 in the amnion, artery and vein, whereas in the former the corresponding values were 42.20, 26.61 and 32.48. These results show that, in addition to a decrease in the amnion, hydroxyproline is lowered also in the umbilical vessels, suggesting that the reduction in the collagen in the fetal membranes is probably a particular manifestation of a general metabolic deficiency.

Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells contain a membrane glycoprotein immunologically related to platelet glycoprotein Ib.

Using a platelet glycoprotein Ib (GpIb)-specific monoclonal antibody, AP-1, we have studied cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) for the presence of GpIb. Radiolabeled AP-1 bound specifically and saturably to HUVEC in suspension and detected a single class of binding sites (100,000/cell). When Triton X-100 extracts of HUVEC were chromatographed on wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-Sepharose, radioiodinated, precipitated with AP-1, and subjected to reduced sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), major radioactive bands of 228,000, 145,000, and 130,000 were seen. The latter two bands correspond to the 156,000 and 140,000 bands, representing GpIb alpha and glycocalicin, respectively, which are seen when platelets are subjected to the same procedure. The 228,000 band corresponds to a band previously noted in immunoprecipitates of platelet GpIb but not fully explained. When HUVEC were grown in the presence of 35S-methionine, extracted with Triton X-100, chromatographed on WGA-Sepharose, immunoprecipitated with AP-1, and subjected to reduced SDS-PAGE, radioactive bands of 210,000, 156,000, and 90,000 were seen. We conclude that cultured HUVEC synthesize and express on their surface a glycoprotein immunologically related to platelet GpIb.

Measurement of T4, T3 and reverse T3 levels, resin T3 uptake, and free thyroxin index in blood from the intervillous space of the placenta, in maternal peripheral blood, and in the umbilical artery and vein of normal parturients and their conceptuses.

T4, T3, and reverse T3 (rT3) levels and the free thyroxine index were measured in blood collected from the intervillous space (IVS) after placental expulsion and compared to the values in maternal peripheral blood and in umbilical artery and umbilical vein of 21 clinically normal parturients and their conceptuses. T4 levels in maternal peripheral blood did not differ significantly from T4 levels in the IVS, but were significantly higher than those detected in umbilical vein and artery (p less than 0.05). There was no difference in T4 levels between umbilical vein and artery. The free thyroxine index was similar for the maternal compartments (maternal peripheral blood and IVS), but differed significantly from the fetal compartments (umbilical vein and umbilical artery). T3 levels in maternal peripheral blood were significantly higher than in the IVS, both of these values being significantly higher than in the fetal compartments. There was no difference in T3 levels between umbilical vein and artery. rT3 levels of maternal peripheral blood were one third that of the IVS (p less than 0.05). rT3 levels of the umbilical vein were 1.5 times higher than those of the IVS (p less than 0.05) and 5.2 times higher than those of maternal peripheral blood (p less than 0.005). No significant difference was obtained between umbilical vein and artery. The increase in rT3 and the decrease in T3 in the IVS in relation to maternal peripheral blood support the hypothesis that the placenta may preferentially convert T4 to rT3 at the expense of T3. The present data, however, do not permit the identification of the site where this conversion takes place.

Proteoglycans from human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were incubated with [35S]sulphate and investigated for their proteoglycan production. By gel chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography and CsCl density-gradient centrifugation we obtained preparative amounts of the endothelial proteoheparan sulphate HSI and of proteochondroitin sulphate from the conditioned medium of mass-cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Approximately 90% of the 35S-labeled material in the endothelial cell conditioned medium was proteochondroitin sulphate. This molecule, with a molecular mass of 180-200 kDa, contains four side-chains of 35-40 kDa and a core protein of 35-40 kDa. Two proteoheparan sulphate forms (HSI and HSII) from the conditioned medium were distinguished by molecular mass and transport kinetics from the cell layer to the medium in pulse-chase experiments. One major form (HSI), with an approximate molecular mass of 160-200 kDa a core protein of 55-60 kDa and three to four polysaccharide side-chains of 35 kDa each, was found enriched in the cellular membrane pellet. Another proteoheparan sulphate (HSII), with polysaccharide moieties of 20 kDa, is enriched in the subendothelial matrix (substratum).

Glycosphingolipids of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells.

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) represent an important class of immunogens and receptors. Although cell surface antigens and receptors of endothelial cells (ECs) have been the subject of extensive biochemical investigation, no information is available about their GSLs. We report here the characterization by chromatographic and immunological techniques of GSLs of cultured human umbilical vein ECs and, for comparison, umbilical vein smooth muscle cells (SMCs). The most abundant neutral GSLs of both cell types were lactosylceramide, Gb3, and Gb4, and both cells contained complex lacto and globo series compounds. Immunostaining revealed that ECs, but not SMCs, contained long chain GSLs bearing a type 2 blood group H determinant. ECs also contained more long chain GSLs bearing an unsubstituted terminal lactosamine structure than SMCs. Labeling with galactose oxidase/NaB3H4 demonstrated that neutral glycolipids that contained three or more sugars were accessible on the cell surface. The major gangliosides of both cell types were GM3 and IV3NeuAcnLc4. Immunostaining following neuraminidase treatment revealed that most of the long chain gangliosides in both types of cells contained a lacto core structure, and that ganglio series compounds were more abundant in SMCs than ECs. Gangliosides that contain a polyfucosyllactosamine core and a globo core were also present in both cell types. These results demonstrate that endothelial and smooth muscle cells contain a large diversity of GSL structures, and provide the basis for investigation of the role of these GSLs as cell surface antigens and receptors for blood components.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor from human endothelial cells. Purification and partial characterization.

An inhibitor of plasminogen activator was purified to apparent homogeneity from human umbilical vein endothelial cell conditioned medium. The purification was achieved by a speedy and simple two-step procedure, without the use of denaturants. The purified protein was a single-chain glycoprotein with apparent molecular mass of 48 kDa. The purified inhibitor had a specific activity of 8500 U/mg protein and the activity could be stimulated about fourteenfold by treatment with denaturants. An antiserum to the purified inhibitor was raised in rabbits. It recognised plasminogen activator inhibitor from platelets and plasma as well as from cultured endothelial cells. The immunoglobulin fraction of the antiserum neutralised the functional activity of the inhibitor from all these sources.

Structural and immunological differences between human platelet and endothelial thrombospondins.

The structural and immunological properties of human thrombospondins isolated from platelets and from endothelial cells were compared. Both thrombospondins were digested with either trypsin or thermolysin, in the presence or absence of calcium, then injected onto a Superose 12 gel filtration column. The isolated thermolysin-generated fragments of thrombospondins were identified by radioimmunoassays using either different monoclonal antibodies or a polyclonal antibody directed against platelet thrombospondin. The results show that platelet and endothelial thrombospondins are both partially protected from trypsin digestion in the presence of calcium but have different trypsin and thermolysin fragmentation patterns. The thermolysin-generated fragments from platelet and endothelial thrombospondins are recognized differently by a monoclonal antibody whereas all of them are identified by a polyclonal antibody.

Decay-accelerating factor is present on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Decay-accelerating factor (DAF) has been previously described only in cells of bone marrow origin where it serves as a negative modulator of complement activation. Using mAb against human DAF, we demonstrated the presence of DAF in human umbilical vein endothelial cells by immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. By means of an immunoradiometric assay we detected an average of 3.3 X 10(5) molecules of DAF on each cell. When immunoisolates were analyzed in Western blots, endothelial cell DAF comigrated with DAF purified from normal erythrocytes. DAF was synthesized by the endothelial cells since 35S-labeled DAF could be immunoisolated from HUVEC cultured in medium containing [35S]methionine. This is the first evidence for the presence of DAF in cells of extra-marrow origin. DAF may protect endothelial cells from complement-mediated injury.

Cortisol concentrations in the umbilical artery and vein of breech-presenting infants at term in relation to the method of delivery.

Umbilical cord artery and vein cortisol levels and cord artery pH were measured in 32 breech deliveries. There was no detectable increase in fetal cortisol output in relation to fetal acidosis. It is considered that elevation of fetal cortisol levels is caused by maternal transfer of this hormone transplacentally during stressful delivery rather than by enhanced fetal adrenal activity.

Effects of fetal-maternal exchange transfusion on fetal oxygenation and blood flow distribution.

The effect of reducing hemoglobin affinity for O2 on fetal oxygenation was assessed in seven fetal lambs in which fetal blood was almost completely replaced by maternal blood 2-3 days postoperatively. Measurements of fetal blood gases and organ blood flow (radionuclide-labeled microsphere technique) were obtained before and 1 h after the exchange transfusion. Umbilical venous blood PO2 increased from 29 +/- 5 to 35 +/- 6 (SD) Torr (P less than 0.001) but hemoglobin O2 saturation decreased from 78.2 +/- 10.3 to 39.8 +/- 8.8% (P less than 0.001), resulting in a 46% decrease in umbilical venous blood O2 content. Since umbilical-placental blood flow also decreased (P less than 0.002), O2 delivery to the fetus decreased by 64% (P less than 0.002). Although O2 extraction increased from 32.5 +/- 6.8 to 50.9 +/- 9.0% (P less than 0.002), fetal O2 consumption fell from 7.28 +/- 1.97 to 4.10 +/- 1.20 ml X min-1 X kg-1 (P less than 0.02), and metabolic acidemia developed. No significant change in fetal cardiac output was observed. Blood flow increased significantly to the myocardium and adrenals but fell in the placenta, carcass, and lungs and was maintained in other organs. This resulted in a significant decrease in the amount of O2 delivered to all fetal organs except to the myocardium in which it was maintained. In the sheep the higher affinity of fetal blood hemoglobin for O2 helps maintain normal oxygenation during fetal life by facilitating O2 uptake at the placenta and unloading O2 in the tissues.