chondroitin-sulfates and Pre-Eclampsia

The heparan sulfate proteoglycan of the glomerular basement membrane is considered to be mainly responsible for the charge selectivity of the glomerular basement membrane. Decreased heparan sulfate proteoglycan results in a decreased anionic charge of the glomerular basement membrane with increased heparan sulfate proteoglycan in the urine, and is believed to be responsible for the proteinuria in pre-eclampsia.. To determine the urinary heparan and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan levels in women with pre-eclampsia.. Eighty-four patients were studied: 28 were normotensive pregnant, 28 were nonproteinuric hypertensive, and 28 were pre-eclamptic. Urine samples were obtained and urinary glycosaminoglycan concentrations were determined using the dimethyl-methylene blue assay. Plotting absorbance against the concentrations of heparan and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans drew a standard curve. The concentration of heparan and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans was read-off from the linear portion of the standard curve. The standard solutions contained 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/l heparan or chondroitin sulfate. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to detect differences between the three groups, and the Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated for clinical data correlation of the pre-eclamptic group.. Urinary excretion of heparan sulfate proteoglycan (123.1 +/- 22.1 mg/l) was significantly increased in the pre-eclamptic group compared with the normotensive pregnant group (60.5 +/- 5.1 mg/l; p < 0.0001) and the hypertensive nonproteinuric group (63. 2 +/- 3.7 mg/l; p < 0.0001). Urinary chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan excretion followed a similar pattern, being significantly increased in the pre-eclamptic group (88.86 +/- 9.79 mg/l) compared with the normotensive pregnant group (49.1 +/- 8.49 mg/l; p < 0.0001) and the hypertensive nonproteinuric group (43. 9 +/- 5.7 mg/l; p < 0.0001). A significant Pearson's correlation between 24-h urine output vs. 24-h protein excretion (r = 0.51; p < 0.001), and between loss of HSPG versus 24-h urinary protein excretion (r = 0.72; p < 0.0001) was obtained in the pre-eclamptic group.. This study demonstrates a reduction of glomerular charge in pre-eclampsia. The strong correlation between the severity of proteinuria and the loss of charge supports the hypothesis that the loss of glomerular charge induces structural changes of the filtration barrier, and may be the mechanism responsible for the proteinuria in pre-eclampsia. Furthermore, the elevated levels of urinary proteoglycan (heparan and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans) in this disorder show a loss into the urine rather than a neutralization of these macromolecules.

Topics: Adult; Basement Membrane; Black People; Case-Control Studies; Chondroitin Sulfates; Female; Heparitin Sulfate; Humans; Kidney Glomerulus; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy

Pre-eclampsia--edema, proteinuria, hypertension (EPH-gestosis) is one of the more common complications observed during pregnancy. The umbilical cord vein walls were taken from newborns delivered by healthy mothers (control material) and by mothers with polysymptomatic pre-eclampsia (investigated material). Normal saphenous vein walls were collected from adult subjects undergoing varicose vein surgery. The collagen content was measured by the assay of hydroxyproline. Elastin was determined according to Fastin Elastin Assay and gravimetrically. Glycosaminoglycans content was determined by uronic acids assay. The collagen content decreased in the pre-eclampsia material. The amount of soluble elastin increased in the investigated material. The insoluble elastin content decreased in the umbilical cord veins of newborns delivered by mothers with pre-eclampsia. Reconstructing the umbilical cord vein wall may disturb fetal blood flow and affect the vascular system in adulthood.

Topics: Chondroitin Sulfates; Dermatan Sulfate; Elastin; Extracellular Matrix; Female; Glycosaminoglycans; Heparin; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Hydroxyproline; Infant, Newborn; Keratan Sulfate; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Umbilical Veins

Oedema, proteinuria, hypertension (EPH)-gestosis (pre-eclampsia) is associated with a premature replacement of hyaluronic acid by sulphated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), both in the umbilical cord arteries and in Wharton's jelly. It may be concluded from our previous report that such a phenomenon may be the result of reduction in degradation of these compounds. In order to support such a conclusion the activities of GAG-degrading enzymes in normal umbilical cord arteries and those taken from newborns delivered by mothers with EPH-gestosis were compared. It was found that EPH-gestosis results in a significant reduction in the activities of neutral endoglycosidases degrading most of the sulphated GAGs (except keratan sulphate). In the case of acidic endoglycosidases, no characteristic alterations have been found. Only the activity of heparan sulphate-degrading endoglycosidase significantly decreased. In contrast to the above-mentioned endoglycosidases, the activities of arylsulphatase B and 6-sulphatase distinctly increased. The decrease in the activities of endoglycosidases are thought to be responsible for EPH-gestosis-associated accumulation of sulphated GAGs in extracellular matrix of Wharton's jelly. This leads to the suspicion that EPH-gestosis-induced changes in the GAGs composition may alter the fibrillogenesis conditions in Wharton's jelly. The sulphated GAGs accumulated in Wharton's jelly may interact with some growth factors which modify the myofibroblasts' proliferation, gene expression, protein biosynthesis and other processes. A significance of EPH-gestosis-induced alteration in Wharton's jelly is discussed.

Topics: beta-Galactosidase; beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases; Chondroitin Sulfates; Dermatan Sulfate; Female; Glycosaminoglycans; Glycoside Hydrolases; Heparin; Heparitin Sulfate; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Infant, Newborn; Keratan Sulfate; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Sulfatases; Umbilical Cord

Heparin-associated thrombocytopenia (HAT) is a relative frequent complication of thromboembolic prophylaxis and therapy. There is good evidence that the more severe HAT Type II is caused by an antibody dependent on polysulfated oligosaccharide epitopes. At present, low molecular weight heparins are used with varying success in patients with HAT that require further anticoagulation, although there are several known cases of cross reactivity between standard and low molecular weight heparins. Using our present case as an example, we show that the In-vitro- diagnostic of cross-reactivity is an indispensable precondition for any sufficient therapy. Additionally, we give support to previous findings that the low-grade sulfated heparinoid Org 10,172 shows no (or less) cross reactivity with standard or low molecular weight heparins. Thus, it might be the most appropriate choice if an anticoagulation is necessary before the results of In-vitro-diagnostics are available.

Topics: Adult; Anticoagulants; Cesarean Section; Chondroitin Sulfates; Cross Reactions; Dalteparin; Dermatan Sulfate; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Heparin; Heparitin Sulfate; Humans; Platelet Count; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Puerperal Disorders; Thrombocytopenia; Thromboembolism

Crude glycosaminoglycans were prepared from acetone powder of diabetic, toxemic, and normal term placentas. Glycosaminoglycan composition was determined by electrophoresis and densitometric scanning with and without treatment with testicular hyaluronidase and chondroitinase ABC. The identity of individual glycosaminoglycans was confirmed by the nature of their hexosamine. Glycosaminoglycan content was found to be significantly increased in diabetic placentas and increased to a lesser degree in the toxemic placentas. The amount of hyaluronic acid was elevated in both abnormal tissues, and heparan sulfate was slightly higher in diabetes, while unchanged in toxemia. Dermatan sulfate was markedly reduced in the abnormal placentas while chondroitin 4/6 sulfate was unaltered. An attempt was made to correlate the histopathologic changes reported to occur in these conditions with the alterations in the glycosaminoglycans patterns of placentas.

Topics: Chondroitin Sulfates; Dermatan Sulfate; Female; Glycosaminoglycans; Heparitin Sulfate; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Placenta; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy in Diabetics