title: Regulation of cell volume by glycosaminoglycans.
abstract: Cell volume is regulated by a delicate balance between ion distribution across the plasma membrane and the osmotic properties of intra- and extracellular components. Using a fluorescent calcein indicator, we analysed the effects of glycosaminoglycans on the cell volume of hyaluronan producing fibroblasts and hyaluronan deficient HEK cells over a time period of 30 h. Exogenous glycosaminoglycans induced cell blebbing after 2 min and swelling of fibroblasts to about 110% of untreated cell volume at low concentrations which decreased at higher concentrations. HEK cells did not show cell blebbing and responded by shrinking to 65% of untreated cell volume. Heparin induced swelling of both fibroblasts and HEK cells. Hyaluronidase treatment or inhibition of hyaluronan export led to cell shrinkage indicating that the hyaluronan coat maintained fibroblasts in a swollen state. These observations were explained by the combined action of the Donnan effect and molecular crowding.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Muenster University Hospital, Waldeyerstrasse 15, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joerges
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Jeannine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wegner
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prehm
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects*; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009995:Osmosis; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D006493:Heparin; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates