Synthesis of aberrant glycosaminoglycans during cartilage culture in 'sulfate free' medium.
Incorporation of radiolabeled sulfate into glycosaminoglycans is a widely accepted assay to measure the rate of proteoglycan synthesis. Although glycosaminoglycan synthesis is dependent on the quantity of inorganic sulfate available to proteoglycan synthesizing cells, 'sulfate free' medium is regularly used in studies regarding proteoglycan synthesis. In this study murine patellar cartilage glycosaminoglycans synthesized under 'sulfate free' conditions were compared with those synthesized at physiological sulfate concentration. Under 'sulfate free' conditions synthesis was not only decreased but low sulfated glycosaminoglycans were made that were not synthesized during incubation at physiological sulfate concentration. The use of 'sulfate free' medium should be avoided in proteoglycan synthesis studies.
van der Kraan
P M
PM
Department of Rheumatology, Academic Hospital St. Radboud, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Vitters
E L
EL
de Vries
B J
BJ
van den Berg
W B
WB
van de Putte
L B
LB
D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000378:metabolism*; D002848:Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose; D003470:Culture Media; D046508:Culture Techniques; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D013431:Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology*
D003470:Culture Media; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D013431:Sulfates