I. Caniggia et al., FETAL LUNG FIBROBLASTS SELECTIVELY DOWN-REGULATE PROTEOGLYCAN SYNTHESIS IN RESPONSE TO ELEVATED OXYGEN, The Journal of biological chemistry, 271(12), 1996, pp. 6625-6630
Cell proliferation is in part regulated by extracellular matrix, There
fore, it is possible that elevated O-2 may indirectly affect lung fibr
oblast growth via modulation of extracellular matrix, In the present s
tudy, we investigated the effect of elevated O-2 on the synthesis of g
lycosaminoglycans (GrAGs) and proteoglycans (PGs) by fetal lung fibrob
lasts. A 48-h exposure to greater than or equal to 50% O-2 reduced the
incorporation of [H-3]glucosamine and (SO4)-S-35 into GAGs by fetal l
ung fibroblasts. The relative proportion of the individual GAG molecul
es was not altered by elevated O-2, Fibroblasts exposed to 50% O-2 sec
reted less [S-35]proteoglycans into the medium than controls. Specific
ally, the synthesis of the small soluble PG, biglycan, was decreased b
y exposure to 50% O-2. Fetal lung fibroblasts did not synthesize the s
mall chondroitin/dermatan sulfate FG decorin, Elevated O-2 concentrati
ons also reduced the synthesis of membrane- and matrix-associated PGs,
Furthermore, exposure of fetal lung fibroblasts to greater than or eq
ual to 50% O-2 resulted in a decreased mRNA expression for biglycan an
d versican core protein sequences, Ttl contrast, elevated O, increased
the message for type I collagen and fibronectin without affecting tha
t of p-actin. The inhibitory effect of elevated O-2 on biglycan mRNA a
nd protein expression was overcome by incubating the cells in 3% O-2 a
fter the 48-h exposure to 50% O-2. The latter treatment also reversed
the increased mRNA expression of type I collagen associated with eleva
ted O-2 but not that of fibronectin, These results demonstrate that fe
tal lung fibroblasts, in response to elevated oxygen concentrations, s
electively down-regulate their GAG and PG synthesis and that this O-2
effect is reversible.