Glycosphingolipids of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells

• Published in: Archives of biochemistry and biophysics Vol. 256; no. 2; pp. 435 - 445
• Main Authors: Gillard, Baiba K., Jones, Mary A., Marcus, Donald M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.08.1987; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antibodies; Applied sciences; Cells, Cultured; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Endothelium - analysis; Endothelium - cytology; Exact sciences and technology; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Gangliosides - isolation & purification; Glycosphingolipids - isolation & purification; Humans; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - analysis; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - cytology; Other techniques and industries; Umbilical Veins - analysis; Umbilical Veins - cytology
• ISSN: 0003-9861; 1096-0384
• DOI: 10.1016/0003-9861(87)90600-X

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) represent an important class of immunogens and receptors. Although cell surface antigens and receptors of endothelial cells (ECs) have been the subject of extensive biochemical investigation, no information is available about their GSLs. We report here the characterization by chromatographic and immunological techniques of GSLs of cultured human umbilical vein ECs and, for comparison, umbilical vein smooth muscle cells (SMCs). The most abundant neutral GSLs of both cell types were lactosylceramide, Gb 3, and Gb 4, and both cells contained complex lacto and globo series compounds. Immunostaining revealed that ECs, but not SMCs, contained long chain GSLs bearing a type 2 blood group H determinant. ECs also contained more long chain GSLs bearing an unsubstituted terminal lactosamine structure than SMCs. Labeling with galactose oxidase/NaB 3H 4 demonstrated that neutral glycolipids that contained three or more sugars were accessible on the cell surface. The major gangliosides of both cell types were G M3 and IV 3NeuAcnLc 4. Immunostaining following neuraminidase treatment revealed that most of the long chain gangliosides in both types of cells contained a lacto core structure, and that ganglio series compounds were more abundant in SMCs than ECs. Gangliosides that contain a polyfucosyllactosamine core and a globo core were also present in both cell types. These results demonstrate that endothelial and smooth muscle cells contain a large diversity of GSL structures, and provide the basis for investigation of the role of these GSLs as cell surface antigens and receptors for blood components.