title: Distribution of PG-M/versican variants in human tissues and de novo expression of isoform V3 upon endothelial cell activation, migration, and neoangiogenesis in vitro.
abstract: We have carried out a comprehensive molecular mapping of PG-M/versican isoforms V0-V3 in adult human tissues and have specifically investigated how the expression of these isoforms is regulated in endothelial cells in vitro. A survey of 21 representative tissues highlighted a prevalence of V1 mRNA; demonstrated that the relative frequency of expression was V1 > V2 > V3 >or= V2; and showed that <15% of the tissues transcribed significant levels of all four isoforms. By employing novel and previously described anti-versican antibodies we verified a ubiquitous versican deposition in normal and tumor-associated vascular structures and disclosed differences in the glycanation profiles of versicans produced in different vascular beds. Resting endothelial cells isolated from different tissue sources transcribed several of the versican isoforms but consistently failed to translate these mRNAs into detectable proteoglycans. However, if stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha or vascular endothelial growth factor, they altered their versican expression by de novo transcribing the V3 isoform and by exhibiting a moderate V1/V2 production. Induced versican synthesis and de novo V3 expression was also observed in endothelial cells elicited to migrate in a wound-healing model in vitro and in angiogenic endothelial cells forming tubule-like structures in Matrigel or fibrin clots. The results suggest that, independent of the degree of vascularization, human adult tissues show a limited expression of versican isoforms V0, V2, and V3 and that endothelial cells may contribute to the deposition of versican in vascular structures, but only following proper stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutionary and Functional Biology, University of Parma, Viale delle Scienze 11/A, 43100 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cattaruzza
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schiappacassi
authors.forename: Asa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ljungberg-Rose
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spessotto
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perissinotto
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mörgelin
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mucignat
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colombatti
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002417:Cattle; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D004727:Endothelium / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008222:Lymphokines; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011485:Protein Binding; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D053675:Versicans; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; D016207:Cytokines; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008222:Lymphokines; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C508322:VCAN protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D053675:Versicans; D012260:Ribonucleases