EFFECTS OF PGE(2) ON AMOUNT AND COMPOSITION OF HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT GLYCOPROTEINS RELEASED BY HUMAN CULTURE

The aim of this study was to determine effects of prostaglandin E(2) ( PGE(2)) on amount and composition of high molecular weight glycoprotei ns (HMG), released by human gastric mucous cells in primary culture. P GE(2) stimulated the release of HMG, as evidenced by measurement of to tal carbohydrate and protein content, in a concentration-dependent man ner. At the maximally tested concentration of 10(-5) mol/l, the increa se amounted to 53% and 85%, over controls, for carbohydrate and protei n, respectively. The stimulated release was accompanied by alterations of HMG glycosylation. As detected by lectin-ELISA, there was a relati ve decrease in N-acetyl glucosamine and an increase in mannose and gal actose content. The sialic acid content increased in parallel to the t otal carbohydrate content. These results suggest that PGE(2) plays a r egulatory role in the synthesis and secretion of HMG by human gastric mucous cells.