Glycosaminoglycan composition of the vocal fold lamina propria in relation to function.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to quantify the specific glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the midmembranous vocal fold (VF) lamina propria (LP) and to interpret their presence in relation to the known stresses borne by each LP layer.


METHODS
GAGs from normal human LP and from both normal and scarred canine LPs were analyzed by fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis (FACE). Immunostaining was conducted to give insight into the spatial distribution of each GAG type.


RESULTS
Hyaluronan composes roughly 0.64% +/- 0.41% of the human LP as measured relative to tissue total protein. Chondroitin sulfate and/or dermatan sulfate (CS/DS), keratan sulfate, and heparan sulfate chains constitute approximately 23.9% +/- 12.1%, 14.7% +/- 6.1%, and 61.4% +/- 13.6%, respectively, of human LP sulfated GAGs.


CONCLUSIONS
Observed CS/DS sulfation patterns imply that versican is a major contributor to human LP CS levels. In addition, examination of LP GAG with respect to gender revealed a significant variation in total levels of CS/DS and a potential difference in the levels of versican relative to decorin and biglycan. In dogs, LP scarring appeared to result in a reduction in hyaluronan and CS/DS. These FACE results were combined with histologic data to update current descriptive models linking LP microstructure with the regional variations in LP loading.
Hahn
Mariah S
MS
Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Jao
Cindy Y
CY
Faquin
William
W
Grande-Allen
K Jane
KJ
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000737:chemistry; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
D015415:Biomarkers; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid