Selective decreased de novo synthesis of glomerular proteoglycans under the influence of reactive oxygen species

The effect of reactive oxygen species on de novo synthesis of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) of the renal glomerulus was investigated in an organ perfusion system. Isolated kidneys were perfused for 7 hr with a medium containing [³⁵S]SuIfate to label sulfated proteoglycans or [³⁵S]methionine to label total glomerular glycoproteins. For the generation of reactive oxygen species, xanthine and xanthine oxidase were included in the perfusion medium, and catalase and superoxide dismutase were used as scavenging agents. Proteoglycans were characterized by Sepharose CL-6B and DEAE-Sephacel chromatographies and SDS/PAGE analysis. The labeled glycoproteins were immunoprecipitated with anti-HSPG, anti-type IV collagen, and anti-laminin, and their specific radioactivities were determined. With exposure to reactive oxygen species, a drastic dose-dependent decrease in de novo synthesis of proteoglycans was seen, and that effect was reversible by catalase treatment. No alterations in the biochemical characteristics of proteoglycans were noted. Immunoprecipitation studies revealed a 16-fold decrease in the synthesis of nascent core peptide of HSPGs, while at comparable concentrations of xanthine and xanthine oxidase, synthesis of type IV collagen and laminin slightly decreased (≈15%). Morphologic studies revealed a 14-fold decrease in [³⁵S]sulfate-associated autoradiographic grains overlying the glomerular basement membrane, a critical component of the ultrafiltration apparatus. Relevance of the selective decreased de novo synthesis of HSPGs of the glomerular basement membrane is discussed in terms of increased glomerular permeability to plasma proteins.