Serglycin in Quiescent and Proliferating Primary Endothelial Cells

PLoS One. 2015 Dec 22;10(12):e0145584. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145584. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Proteoglycans are fundamental components of the endothelial barrier, but the functions of the proteoglycan serglycin in endothelium are less described. Our aim was to describe the roles of serglycin in processes relevant for endothelial dysfunction. Primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cultured in vitro and the expression of proteoglycans was investigated. Dense cell cultures representing the quiescent endothelium coating the vasculature was compared to sparse activated cell cultures, relevant for diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Secretion of 35S- proteoglycans increased in sparse cultures, and we showed that serglycin is a major component of the cell-density sensitive proteoglycan population. In contrast to the other proteoglycans, serglycin expression and secretion was higher in proliferating compared to quiescent HUVEC. RNAi silencing of serglycin inhibited proliferation and wound healing, and serglycin expression and secretion was augmented by hypoxia, mechanical strain and IL-1β induced inflammation. Notably, the secretion of the angiogenic chemokine CCL2 resulting from IL-1β activation, was increased in serglycin knockdown cells, while angiopoietin was not affected. Both serglycin and CCL2 were secreted predominantly to the apical side of polarized HUVEC, and serglycin and CCL2 co-localized both in perinuclear areas and in vesicles. These results suggest functions for serglycin in endothelial cells trough interactions with partner molecules, in biological processes with relevance for diabetic complications, cardiovascular disease and cancer development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Communication*
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Chemokine CCL2 / metabolism
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Proteoglycans / metabolism*
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Wound Healing*

Substances

  • CCL2 protein, human
  • Chemokine CCL2
  • IL1B protein, human
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Proteoglycans
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins
  • serglycin

Grants and funding

The research leading to these results received funding from The South Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, The Throne Holst Foundation, The Nansen Foundation, and The Jahre Foundation and The Norwegian Diabetes Association.