Changes in glycosaminoglycan structure on differentiation of human embryonic stem cells towards mesoderm and endoderm lineages

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta Vol. 1840; no. 6; pp. 1993 - 2003
• Main Authors: Gasimli, Leyla, Hickey, Anne Marie, Yang, Bo, Li, Guoyun, dela Rosa, Mitche, Nairn, Alison V, Kulik, Michael J, Dordick, Jonathan S, Moremen, Kelley W, Dalton, Stephen, Linhardt, Robert J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01.06.2014
• Subjects: Cell Differentiation; Cell Lineage; Embryonic Stem Cells - cytology; Endoderm - cytology; Glycosaminoglycans - biosynthesis; Glycosaminoglycans - chemistry; Hepatocytes - cytology; Humans; Mesoderm - cytology; Proteoglycans - chemistry; Embryonic; Glycosaminoglycan; Splanchnic mesoderm; Proteoglycans; Hepatocytes; Stem cells
• ISSN: 0006-3002; 0304-4165
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2014.01.007

Proteoglycans are found on the cell surface and in the extracellular matrix, and serve as prime sites for interaction with signaling molecules. Proteoglycans help regulate pathways that control stem cell fate, and therefore represent an excellent tool to manipulate these pathways. Despite their importance, there is a dearth of data linking glycosaminoglycan structure within proteoglycans with stem cell differentiation. Human embryonic stem cell line WA09 (H9) was differentiated into early mesoderm and endoderm lineages, and the glycosaminoglycanomic changes accompanying these transitions were studied using transcript analysis, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence and disaccharide analysis. Pluripotent H9 cell lumican had no glycosaminoglycan chains whereas in splanchnic mesoderm lumican was glycosaminoglycanated. H9 cells have primarily non-sulfated heparan sulfate chains. On differentiation towards splanchnic mesoderm and hepatic lineages N-sulfo group content increases. Differences in transcript expression of NDST1, HS6ST2 and HS6ST3, three heparan sulfate biosynthetic enzymes, within splanchnic mesoderm cells compared to H9 cells correlate to changes in glycosaminoglycan structure. Differentiation of embryonic stem cells markedly changes the proteoglycanome. The glycosaminoglycan biosynthetic pathway is complex and highly regulated, and therefore, understanding the details of this pathway should enable better control with the aim of directing stem cell differentiation.