Tj. Koob et al., Cell-derived stiffening and plasticizing factors in sea cucumber (Cucumaris frondosa) dermis, J EXP BIOL, 202(17), 1999, pp. 2291-2301
The stiffness of holothurian dermis can be altered experimentally in vitro
by changing the concentration of extracellular Ca2+. Previous experiments w
ith Cucumaria frondosa have established that these Ca2+ effects are due to
Ca2+-dependent cellular processes rather than to direct effects of Ca2+ on
the extracellular matrix. The present report describes two protein factors
that are released from cells of C. frondosa dermis by membrane lysis and th
at directly alter the stiffness of the extracellular matrix. One factor, is
olated from the inner dermis, increased tissue stiffness in the absence of
Ca2+. The second factor, from the outer dermis, decreased tissue stiffness
in the presence of normal Ca2+ levels. The relative abundance of these two
factors in the inner and outer dermis suggests the possibility that the cel
ls that control tissue stiffness are spatially segregated, Both factors wer
e partially purified under non-denaturing conditions by anion-exchange and
gel-filtration chromatography. The partially purified protein preparations
retained biological activity. These results suggest that the stiffness of s
ea cucumber dermis is regulated by cell-mediated secretion of either the st
iffening or plasticizing protein and that alterations in dermis stiffness b
rought about by manipulation of Ca2+ levels are mediated by effects on secr
etion of one or both of these proteins.