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Non-electrostatic factors govern the hydrodynamic properties of articular cartilage proteoglycan.

ABSTRACT: The hydrodynamic frictional resistance to water flow exerted by articular cartilage proteoglycan is shown to be similar to that of proteoglycan isolated from Swarm rat chondrosarcoma, and independent of the state of aggregation of the proteoglycan. Frictional resistance is dependent, however, on the chain segments of the constituent chondroitin-sulphate and keratan-sulphate chains of the proteoglycan. Frictional resistance offered by chondroitin sulphate was independent of pH over the range 3.2-8.7. This confirms previous studies, associated with varying ionic strength and chemical modification of ionic groups of chondroitin sulphate, which showed that the frictional resistance offered by this molecule is independent of electrostatic factors. Water-structure-breaking and hydrogen-bond-breaking solvents were also without major effects on the flow resistance offered by chondroitin sulphate. An overall secondary structure of chondroitin sulphate was not evident, as it showed no significant difference to dextran in terms of its temperature dependence of relative viscosity. Local regions of rigid secondary structure, as manifested through inter-residue hydrogen bonding between sugar residues, is likely to control flow resistance as periodate-oxidized chondroitin sulphate and periodate-oxidized and reduced preparations showed a significant decrease in their frictional resistance to water.

SUBMITTER: Comper WD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1132202 | biostudies-other | 1993 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Project description:BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease of the synovial joints. The autoimmune character of RA is underscored by prominent production of autoantibodies such as those against IgG (rheumatoid factor), and a broad array of joint tissue-specific and other endogenous citrullinated proteins. Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) can be detected in the sera and synovial fluids of RA patients and ACPA seropositivity is one of the diagnostic criteria of RA. Studies have demonstrated that RA T cells respond to citrullinated peptides (epitopes) of proteoglycan (PG) aggrecan, which is one of the most abundant macromolecules of articular cartilage. However, it is not known if the PG molecule is citrullinated in vivo in human cartilage, and if so, whether citrulline-containing neoepitopes of PG (CitPG) can contribute to autoimmunity in RA.MethodsCitPG was detected in human cartilage extracts using ACPA+ RA sera in dot blot and Western blot. Citrullination status of in vitro citrullinated recombinant G1 domain of human PG (rhG1) was confirmed by antibody-based and chemical methods, and potential sites of citrullination in rhG1 were explored by molecular modeling. CitPG-specific serum autoantibodies were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and CitPG was localized in osteoarthritic (OA) and RA cartilage using immunohistochemistry.FindingsSera from ACPA+ RA patients reacted with PG purified from normal human cartilage specimens. PG fragments (mainly those containing the G1 domain) from OA or RA cartilage extracts were recognized by ACPA+ sera but not by serum from ACPA- individuals. ACPA+ sera also reacted with in vitro citrullinated rhG1 and G3 domain-containing fragment(s) of PG. Molecular modeling suggested multiple sites of potential citrullination within the G1 domain. The immunohistochemical localization of CitPG was different in OA and RA cartilage.ConclusionsCitPG is a new member of citrullinated proteins identified in human joints. CitPG could be found in both normal and diseased cartilage specimens. Antibodies against CitPG may trigger or augment arthritis by forming immune complexes with this autoantigen in the joints of ACPA+ RA patients.

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Non-electrostatic factors govern the hydrodynamic properties of articular cartilage proteoglycan.

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