Proteoglycans from adult human gingival epithelium

Abstract

Proteoglycans extracted from human gingival epithelium appear to contain a proportion of molecules that will interact with hyaluronic acid to form macromolecular aggregates. In contrast, proteoglycans from underlying connective tissue behaved differently. The interactions of hyaluronic acid with proteoglycans from either epithelium or cartilage may be similar, but not necessarily identical.

Mucopolysaccharide localization in gingival epithelium

“…In vitro and in vivo incorporation studies were compared. These data corroborate biochemical studies (Wiebkin, Bartold & Thonard 1979) together with other histochemical observations that proteoglycans (mucopolysaccharides) are a major intercellular component of human gingival epithelium. Molecular conformation and the relatively rapid synthesis and secretion rate for this class of epithelial macromolecule may explain the lack of susceptibility of this material in the intercellular site, both to degradation by some specific enzymes previously reported and to elution with critical salt concentrations from cationic detergent precipitates.The method described, together with in vivo incorporation studies, provides a useful technique for studying direct effects of some microenvironmental influences on gingival epithelium.…”

“…Indeed the biochemical evidence and other incorporation studies (Magnussen 1968, infra vide) together with reported histochemical data would mitigate against such an assertion. Furthermore, biochemical analyses of extracts of gingival epithelial tissue demonstrate the presence of glycosaminoglycans (Wiebkin & Thonard 1969, Embery, Oliver & Stan bury 1979 in the form of macromolecular proteglycon (Wiebkin & Thonard 1979, Wiebkin et al 1980, Bartold et al 1981a; both the in vivo and in vitro incorporation of [^^SJ-sulphate into tissue components corroborate these analyses.…”

“…Biochemical analysis of aqueous extractions and enzyme digestions of gingival epithelium (Schultz-Haudt 1958, Wiebkin et al 1979, Bartold, Wiebkin & Thonard 1981a and of amnion cell lines (Wiebkin & Thonard 1968) confirm the presence of macromolecular carbohydrate components. Some of these components which contain uronic acids are sulphated to varying degrees and also contain hexosamines (Wiebkin 1970, Wiebkin et al 1980.…”

“…Glycosaminoglycans alone, rarely exist in tissue, but are covalently linked by well characterized linkage regions to protein coresthe complete macromolecule is termed the proteoglycan. Indeed, the macromolecular material extracted from gingival epithelium behaves on gel chromatography like the polydisperse proteoglycans, demonstrating both aggregated and non-aggregated species (Wiebkin et al 1979).…”

Mammalian eyes and associated tissues contain molecules that are immunologically related to cartilage proteoglycan and link protein.

“…Proteoglycans have now been identified biochemically in many tissues such as aorta (28)(29)(30), ovarian follicular fluid (31), gingiva (32), lung (33), basement membrane (34), and brain (35,36). These proteoglycans exhibit fundamental differences in their glycosaminoglycan and protein compositions, their molecular sizes, and their ability to aggregate with hyaluronic acid .…”