Involvement of endothelial Man and Gal-binding lectins in sensing the flow in coronary arteries.

The coronary endothelial luminal membrane (CELM) glycocalyx has diverse molecules involved in blood flow signal transduction. Evidence suggests that some of these structures may be lectinic. To test this, we synthesized two monosaccharide polymers (Mon-Pols) made of Mannose (Man-Pol) or Galactose (Gal-Pol) covalently coupled to Dextran (70 kDa) and used them as lectin affinity probes. In situ intracoronary infusion of both polymers resulted in CELM-binding but only Man-Pol caused a reduction in flow-induced positive inotropism and dromotropism. To demonstrate that our lectinic probes could bind to CELM lectins, a representative CELM protein fraction was isolated via intracoronary infusion of a cationic silica colloid and either Mannose- or Galactose-binding lectins were purified from the CELM protein fraction using the corresponding Mon-Pol affinity chromatography resin. Resin-bound CELM proteins were eluted with the corresponding monosaccharide. 2D-SDS-PAGE (pH 4-7) revealed 9 Mannose- and approximately 100 Galactose-selective CELM lectins. In summary, the CELM glycocalyx contains Mannose- and Galactose-binding lectins that may be involved in translating coronary flow into a cardiac parenchymal response.

Cardiac ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion cause wide proteolysis of the coronary endothelial luminal membrane: possible dysfunctions.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) are common clinical insults that disrupt the molecular structure of coronary vascular endothelial luminal membrane (VELM) that result in diverse microvasculature dysfunctions. However, the knowledge of the associated biochemical changes is meager. We hypothesized that ischemia and I/R-induced structural and functional VELM alterations result from biochemical changes. First, these changes need to be described and later the mechanisms behind be identified. METHODS: During control conditions, in isolated perfused rat hearts VELM proteins were labeled with biotin. The groups of hearts were: control (C), no flow ischemia (I; 25 min), and I/R (I; 25 min, reperfusion 30 min). The biotinylated luminal endothelial membrane proteins in these three different groups were examined by 2-D electrophoresis and identified. But, it must be kept in mind the proteins were biotin-labeled during control. RESULTS: A comparative analysis of the protein profiles under the 3 conditions following 2D gel electrophoresis showed differences in the molecular weight distribution such that MW(C) > MW(I) > MW(I/R). Similar analysis for isoelectric points (pH(i)) showed a shift toward more acidic pHi under ischemic conditions. Of 100 % proteins identified during control 66% and 88% changed their MW-pH(i) during ischemia and I/R respectively. Among these lost proteins there were 9 proteins identified as adhesins and G-protein coupled receptors. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: I and I/R insults alter MW-pH(i) of most luminal glycocalyx proteins due to the activation of nonspecific hydrolizing mechanisms; suspect metalloproteases and glycanases. This makes necessary the identification of hydrolyzing enzymes reponsible of multiple microvascular dysfunctions in order to maintain the integrity of vascular endothelial membrane. VELM must become a target of future therapeutics.