Production and purification of recombinant human SPARC.

The matricellular protein SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine, also known as osteonectin or as BM-40) is a collagen-binding protein with a capacity to induce cell rounding and influence proliferation in cultured cells. In mice that do not express SPARC, fibrillar collagen is reduced in some adult tissues; notably, a reduction in fibrosis is reported in response to fibrotic stimuli in lungs, heart, skin, liver, and in the eye. Recently, mutations in the gene encoding SPARC were found in patients afflicted with osteogenesis imperfecta. Thus, SPARC appears to be a critical mediator of collagen deposition and assembly in tissues. A useful tool for assessing the function of SPARC in ECM assembly is a source of purified recombinant SPARC. Outlined in this chapter is a brief discussion of different strategies for generating recombinant SPARC and an experimental strategy for producing and purifying human recombinant SPARC driven by baculoviral expression in insect cells.

Proliferation, differentiation and characterization of osteoblasts from human BM mesenchymal cells.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to isolate osteoprogenitor cells (OPC) from BM mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) and test their capacity to proliferate and differentiate into osteoblasts. METHODS: Human MSC were separated on a Percoll gradient and cultured in DMEM supplemented with 15% human serum, and characterized by flow cytometric analyzes for CD34, CD13, CD90, CD105 and CD117. To induce differentiation, cultured cells were exposed to 10(-7) m dexamethasone (dexa) and/or 10(-3) m sodium beta-glycerophosphate (beta-GlyP) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol) or 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-RA). RESULTS: alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity was detected in cells irrespective of the dexa and/or beta-GlyP treatment. Antigenic phenotypes of MSC were CD34- (more than 99%) and CD13+ CD90+ CD105+ CD117+ (c. 50%). The treatment induced extracellular calcium deposition and gene and protein expression of osteonectin (ON) and bone sialoprotein (BSP): beta-GlyP induced an increase (c. 2.2-fold) of the ON gene and dexa augmented (c. 2.7-fold) the gene expression of BSP II. Gene expression of BSP I reached a maximum at 3 weeks of combined treatment. Osteocalcin gene expression was induced only after additional treatment with calcitriol or 9-RA. Ultrastructural analysis revealed the secretory phenotype of OPC. DISCUSSION: Under appropriate treatment, MSC can give rise to OPC that have the capacity to differentiate into osteoblasts characterized by the expression of osteogenic markers, osteoblastic properties and stromal BM cells phenotypes. These cells may represent a promising material to be utilized in orthopedic cellular therapy.

Secreted modular calcium-binding protein-1 localization during mouse embryogenesis.

BM-40 is an extracellular matrix-associated protein and is characterized by an extracellular calcium-binding domain as well as a follistatin-like domain. Secreted modular calcium-binding protein-1 (SMOC-1) is a new member of the BM-40 family. It consists of two thyroglobulin-like domains, a follistatin-like domain and a new domain without known homologues and is expressed ubiquitously in many adult murine tissues. Immunofluorescence studies, as well as immunogold electron microscopy, have confirmed the localization of SMOC-1 in or around basement membranes of adult murine skin, blood vessels, brain, kidney, skeletal muscle, and the zona pellucida surrounding the oocyte. In the present work, light microscopic immunohistochemistry has revealed that SMOC-1 is localized in the early mouse embryo day 7 throughout the entire endodermal basement membrane zone of the embryo proper. SMOC-1 mRNA is synthesized, even in early stages of mouse development, by mesenchymal as well as epithelial cells deriving from all three germ layers. In embryonic stage day 12, and fetal stages day 14, 16, and 18, the protein is present in the basement membrane zones of brain, blood vessels, skin, skeletal muscle, lung, heart, liver, pancreas, intestine, and kidney. This broad and organ-specific distribution suggests multifunctional roles of SMOC-1 during mouse embryogenesis.

Porcine SPARC: isolation from dentin, cDNA sequence, and computer model.

Genes encoding the major enamel matrix proteins and non-collagenous proteins of bone and dentin are members of the secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein (SCPP) family, which originated from ancestral SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine; BM-40/osteonectin). To better understand the role of SPARC in mineralizing systems, we isolated SPARC from developing pig teeth, deduced its primary structure from the cDNA sequence, and determined its quaternary structure by homology modelling with reference to human SPARC crystal structures. The guanidine/EDTA extract from porcine dentin was fractionated by anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. Stains-all positive bands at 38 and 35 kDa gave the N-terminal sequences APQQEALPDETEV and DFEKNYNMYIFPV, which corresponded to the SPARC N terminus and an internal region of the protein. Porcine SPARC contains 300 amino acids, including the 17-amino acid signal peptide, and shares 96.2% amino acid sequence identity with human SPARC. Without post-translational modifications, the 283-amino acid secreted protein has a molecular mass of 32.3 kDa. The three-dimensional model revealed that porcine SPARC contains a single N-linked glycosylation at N113, seven intramolecular disulfide bridges, and assembles into dimers. SPARC is composed of three structural/functional domains: an acidic Ca2+-binding, a follistatin-like, and an extracellular calcium-binding domain.

Structural variability of BM-40/SPARC/osteonectin glycosylation: implications for collagen affinity.

We performed a detailed investigation of N-glycan structures on BM-40 purified from different sources including human bone, human platelets, mouse Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) tumor, and human BM-40 recombinantly expressed in 293 and osteosarcoma cells. These preparations were digested with endoglycosidases and N-glycans were further characterized by sequential exoglycosidase digestion and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses. Bone BM-40 carries high-mannose structures as well as biantennary complex type N-glycans, whereas the protein from platelets and 293 cells has exclusively bi- and triantennary complex type structures. BM-40 derived from the EHS tumor carries biantennary complex type and additional hybrid structures. Using the osteosarcoma-derived MHH-ES1 cell line we successfully expressed a recombinant BM-40 that bears at least in part the bone-specific high-mannose N-glycosylation in addition to complex type and hybrid structures. Using chromatography on Concanavalin-A Sepharose, we further purified a fraction enriched in high-mannose structures. This array of differentially glycosylated BM-40 proteins was assayed by surface plasmon resonance measurements to investigate the binding to collagen I. BM-40 carrying high-mannose structures binds collagen I with higher affinity, suggesting that differentially glycosylated forms may have different functional roles in vivo.

Purification of SPARC/osteonectin.

SPARC is a matricellular protein that regulates cell adhesion, extracelluolar matrix production, growth factor activity and cell cycle. This unit describes the purification of SPARC, also termed osteonectin and BM/40, from cultured mammalian cells. Additional information is presented on the purification of recombinant SPARC (rSPARC) from E. coli and from Sf9 cells, as well as its isolation from blood platelets. Assays for the activity of SPARC, de-adhesion and inhibition of cellular proliferation in vitro, are described. The expression of SPARC during remodeling and repair tissue in response to injury identifies it as a therapeutic target for the treatment of fibrotic disease, certain cancers and other disorders in which regulation of angiogenesis is a key factor.

Expression and purification of recombinant human SPARC produced by baculovirus.

SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine/osteonectin/BM-40), a matrix-associated protein, disrupts cell adhesion and inhibits the proliferation of many cultured cells. We report the expression of recombinant human protein (rhSPARC) in a baculovirus expression system. This procedure routinely yields approximately 1 mg of purified protein per 500 ml of culture supernate. rhSPARC produced by insect cells migrates at the appropriate molecular weight under reducing and nonreducing conditions. The rhSPARC purified from insect cell media appeared structurally similar to SPARC purified from mammalian tissue culture by the criterion of circular dichroism. In addition, a series of anti-SPARC and anti-SPARC peptide antibodies recognized insect cell rhSPARC. We also show that rhSPARC produced in this system is glycosylated and is biologically active, as assessed by inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation and induction of collagen I mRNA in mesangial cells. Significant amounts of rhSPARC can now be generated in the absence of contaminating mammalian proteins for structure/function assays of SPARC activities.

SPARC from corneal epithelial cells modulates collagen contraction by keratocytes.

PURPOSE: Contraction of the scar tissue during corneal wound healing changes the shape of the cornea and corneal refraction. In a previous study, it was found that corneal epithelial cells secrete the factor that stimulates collagen gel contraction by keratocytes in vitro. The purpose of the present study was to purify and identify the contraction-stimulating factor derived from corneal epithelial cells. METHODS: The cultured medium of rabbit corneal epithelial cells was collected and used as an epithelial cell-conditioned medium (ECCM). Subcultured rabbit keratocytes were embedded in a collagen gel, and collagen gel contraction was investigated. The contraction-stimulating factor in the ECCM was purified through acetone precipitation, affinity chromatography (heparin Sepharose), gel filtration, and reversed-phase chromatography. The amino acid sequence of a contraction-stimulating factor was analyzed. RESULTS: Collagen gel contraction by keratocytes was enhanced by the addition of ECCM in a dose-dependent manner. The amino acids sequence of the contraction-stimulating factor was homologous to a 32-kDa glycoprotein, a secreted protein that is acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC). Western blot analysis confirmed that SPARC was contained in the ECCM. Collagen gel contraction by keratocytes was enhanced by the addition of purified SPARC in a dose-dependent manner. SPARC was found in the basal layer of the migrating epithelium and activated keratocytes adjacent to the wound 3 days and 1 week after perforating injury in rabbit corneas. CONCLUSIONS: Epithelial cells secrete SPARC, which modulates the contraction of scar tissue in the corneal stroma.

Isolation of a novel bone glycosylated phosphoprotein with disulphide cross-links to osteonectin.

An 80 kDa protein was purified from calf bone by HCl-demineralization followed by 0.5 M EDTA/1.0 M NaCl extraction and sequential chromatography on DE-52, hydroxyapatite, and TSK-gel G3000SW HPLC columns. From the DE-52 column the protein was eluted at three different fractions, of which one further separated into two fractions on the hydroxyapatite column, indicating that the protein is present in four different molecular forms designated as 80 k-I-1, k-I-2, k-II, k-III. The N-terminal sequence analysis of all four forms gave the same sequence, SEQYNQEPNNV. Several tryptic internal peptides were also generated, purified and sequenced, leading to the identification of several repeat sequences, IFLGXXEI. Homology searching of the N-terminal and internal sequences indicates that this is a novel protein. Both 80 k-I-2 and k-III had similar amino acid composition with high contents of Asx, Glx and Leu and contained 7 and 16 phosphoserines per 1000 total amino acids, respectively. The 80 k-I-1 and 80 k-II forms were stained with Rhodamine B specific for phosphoproteins. The four forms contained different contents of neutral sugars ranging from 5.5 to 26% (w/w protein) and approximately 1.7% sialic acid. These data indicated that the 80 kDa protein exists in four isomeric forms, at least based on the different post-translational modifications. The evaluation of the 80 kDa glycosylated phosphoprotein under alkylating, reducing and non-reducing conditions indicated that this protein undergoes polymerization through intermolecular disulphide bonds. Furthermore, the 80 kDa protein and osteonectin (ON), both of which are cysteine-rich proteins, can cross-link with each other via disulphide bonds, and this process can be induced to take place in vitro under experimental conditions. The occurrence of such a phenomenon in vivo was confirmed from the presence of similar high Mr components containing both 80 kDa and ON in the same SDS/PAGE bands, detected by the respective antibody reactions in crude bone extracts which were extracted in the presence of alkylating agent.

Stimulation of motility of human renal cell carcinoma by SPARC/Osteonectin/BM-40 associated with type IV collagen.

SPARC is known to be important in development and tissue remodelling. Here, we examined the effects of SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine; osteonectin) derived from a rat osteosarcoma cell line on migration of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) by a Boyden chamber assay. YCR RCC cells migrated through type IV collagen-coated filters without stimuli (basal level). SPARC in the lower compartment stimulated chemotactic activity to 120% of the basal level, whereas premixing of YCR with purified SPARC before inoculation reduced their migration to 72% of the basal level. Furthermore, SPARC mixed with type IV collagen more efficiently stimulated their migration in a concentration-dependent manner (up to 170% of the basal level). This suggests that SPARC bound to type IV collagen plays a role in tumor invasion.

Cultured leptomeningeal cells secrete cerebrospinal fluid proteins.

To extrapolate the function of the leptomeninges, we examined the profile of the proteins secreted from the cultured leptomeningeal cells prepared from 1-2-day-old rats. In sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of the medium conditioned with the cultured cells, 20-25 differentially distinctive protein bands were noted. Through several chromatographic procedures (Sephadex G-75, Mono Q, and 7C8-300), altogether 18 proteins were purified to homogeneity, and the partial amino acid sequence of each protein was determined. Homology search revealed that the major proteins included prostaglandin-D-synthase or beta-trace protein, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II, IGF-binding protein-2, apolipoprotein E, beta 2-microglobulin, cystatin C, transferrin, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase or cyclophilin C, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine, ubiquitin, lysozyme C, extracellular superoxide dismutase, and collagen alpha-1 (III). Most of these proteins are known to be the major brain-derived protein constituents of CSF and are thought to play important roles in certain biological events in the brain. Considering the morphological features, the present findings suggest the importance of the leptomeninges as an origin of such proteins in CSF.

Role of N-linked glycosylation in human osteonectin. Effect of carbohydrate removal by N-glycanase and site-directed mutagenesis on structure and binding of type V collagen.

In this study we demonstrate that the binding region of recombinant truncated human bone osteonectin (tHON) for type V collagen resides between amino acids 1 and 146. After removal of oligosaccharide chain structures from tHON, bovine bone osteonectin (BBON) and human platelet osteonectin (HPON) by N-glycanase, their ability to bind to type V collagen is increased, and HPON affinity to collagen V is the same as that of BBON. These data suggest that glycosylation of osteonectin has a direct or regulatory effect on osteonectin binding to collagen V and that the increase in tHON binding upon removal of carbohydrate is the result of a loss of a down-regulation site or direct interference of the carbohydrate at the binding site. To determine the specific role of each N-glycosylation site in tHON, Asn71 and Asn99 were mutated to Gln (N71Q, N99Q) and Thr73 and Thr101 mutated to Ala (T73A, T101A) to selectively inhibit oligosaccharide attachment. The binding affinity of N99Q and T101Q to collagen V is markedly increased over wild-type tHON, whereas N71Q and T73A are the same as wild-type tHON. The doubled mutant (N71,99Q) binds identically to collagen V as N99Q and T101A. These data suggest that only the position 99 glycosylation site (Asn99-X-Thr101) in tHON is important in the reduction of binding of osteonectin to collagen V. Consistent with the binding data is the observation that both the N71Q and T73A mutant proteins migrate on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels identically to wild-type tHON, suggesting that there is little or no N-glycosylation of residue 71 in wild-type osteonectin.

Conformational changes of bovine bone osteonectin induced by interaction with calcium.

To clarify calcium-induced conformational changes in bovine bone osteonectin, the protein was labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) in the presence and absence of calcium. By calcium titration using fluorescence spectrometry, it was demonstrated that FITC-osteonectin labeled in the presence of 2 mM CaCl2 showed a much higher affinity for calcium ions than did that labeled in the absence of calcium ions. The midpoint for completion of the increase in the intrinsic fluorescence (K0.5) of the two were 1 x 10(-7) M and 5 x 10(-7) M, respectively. By tryptic digestion and isolation of the fluorescent peptide of both FITC-osteonectins, the site of FITC-labeling was determined to be Lys174. Furthermore, it was found that the efficacy of labeling in this specific binding site was three times higher in the FITC-osteonectin labeled in the presence of 2 mM CaCl2 than in that labeled in the absence of calcium. The results indicate that in the presence of 2 mM CaCl2 the microenvironment around Lys174 of osteonectin was more open to modification than in the absence of calcium.

Regional differences in expression of osteonectin mRNA after administration of cadmium to rats.

Osteonectin gene expression in relation to metallothionein mRNA expression was investigated in various tissues from Cd-treated rats. After a single 50 micromol/kg subcutaneous injection of CdCl2, Cd predominantly accumulated in the liver and metallothionein gene expression significantly increased concomitantly with Cd accumulation, but no alteration of osteonectin gene expression was observed. In the kidney and lung, both metallothionein and osteonectin mRNA increased significantly but the elevation of metallothionein mRNA levels (1 h after Cd administration) preceded that of osteonectin (3 h after administration). A significant elevation of osteonectin mRNA levels was also observed in the testis after 3 h, but that of metallothionein mRNA occurred after 6 h. Not only accumulation of Cd but also increments in both osteonectin and metallothionein mRNA were minimal in the brain, but a significant increase in gene expression was observed after 1 h for osteonectin and after 3 h for metallothionein. Since, except in the testis, metallothionein gene expression preceded osteonectin gene expression, the induced metallothionein might transpose Cd and thereby affect its levels immediately, thus reducing the levels of Cd available for accumulation in other tissues. Hence, the osteonectin-Cd interaction might be secondary to the metallothionein-Cd interaction. However, the fact that osteonectin mRNA was predominantly induced by Cd administration in the target tissues of Cd toxicity, such as the lung, kidney and testis, suggests the possible involvement of osteonectin in Cd intoxication/detoxication mechanisms.

Purification of biologically active SPARC expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) is a secreted, Ca+2-binding glycoprotein that modulates interactions between cells and their immediate extracellular matrix. Traditional sources of SPARC have been mammalian bone, platelets, a basement membrane tumor, and cultured cells; most if not all preparations, however, contain platelet-derived growth factor and one or more serum proteins that bind specifically to purified SPARC. To avoid these contaminants, as well as the toxic lipid moiety associated with endotoxin, we expressed recombinant wild-type and a mutated murine SPARC in two strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: one strain was transfected with an expression vector encoding a proprietory signal peptide that directed the secretion of the recombinant protein. Recombinant SPARC was also purified from cell lysates of a different, nonreverting strain of S. cerevisiae that was optimized for large-scale fermentation runs. A mutant murine SPARC lacking the single glycosylation site was also expressed following substitution of Asn98 with Asp98 in the wild-type sequence. Purification of SPARC was achieved by copper-affinity and hydrophobic-interaction chromatography. Both the wild-type and the glycosylation-defective recombinant proteins exhibited high levels of activity in two bioassays with endothelial cells: inhibition of cell spreading/disruption of actin microfilaments and competition for the binding of nonrecombinant 125I-labeled SPARC to the cell surface. The availability of biologically active, recombinant SPARC will facilitate investigation of the structural and functional properties of this protein, which is expressed at high levels in healing wounds, atherosclerotic plaque, and several cancers and diseases of connective tissue.

Osteonectin/SPARC regulates cellular secretion rates of fibronectin and laminin extracellular matrix proteins.

Osteonectin (OTN) has been implicated in controlling cell adhesivity onto substratum and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Significant amounts of OTN were synthesized not only by normal fibroblasts and endothelial cells, but also by HT-1080 fibrosarcoma and MG-63 osteosarcoma cells. Levels of secreted OTN were likely to be slightly elevated by the addition of exogenous placental laminin (LN), but not by supplementation of plasma fibronectin (FN). Exogenously supplemented purified bone OTN was not apparently incorporated into the ECM of the adhering cells and had no effect on cell spreading and growth, whereas secretion of type I collagen or FN in the tumor cells was moderately diminished in the presence of soluble OTN. Concentration-dependent down-regulation of cellular LN secretion appeared to be most significant, suggesting that OTN participates in regulating extracellular secretion of ECM components in the cells either with or without the ability to synthesize cellular OTN.

Osteonectin/SPARC is a product of articular chondrocytes/cartilage and is regulated by cytokines and growth factors.

Rabbit articular chondrocytes maintained in monolayer, synthesized and secreted a 46 kDa protein into the culture medium. N-terminal sequence analysis and immunoprecipitation of the radiolabeled material revealed this protein to be osteonectin (ON)/SPARC, a protein previously shown to be present in bone. When chondrocytes were exposed to interleukin-1, a cytokine with matrix degradative properties, ON synthesis and secretion was greatly inhibited. However, this was specific to IL-1 since two other pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor-necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6) with properties similar to IL-1, failed to cause any discernible effect on ON synthesis. Several growth factors (TGF-beta, PDGF, and IGF-1), that have been shown to stimulate other cartilage matrix macromolecular synthesis, also stimulated ON synthesis and were also able to reverse the inhibitory effect of IL-1 on ON synthesis. These observations were also demonstrated in explant cultures of cartilage. Our studies suggest that ON is a biosynthetic product of articular cartilage and could play a role in cartilage structure and/or function.

Specific interaction of SPARC with endothelial cells is mediated through a carboxyl-terminal sequence containing a calcium-binding EF hand.

SPARC is a secreted, Ca(2+)-binding protein that modulates cell shape and gene expression (Sage, E.H., and Bornstein, P. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 14831-14834). In the present study we questioned whether SPARC interacted with an endothelial cell surface receptor. The binding of 125I-SPARC to bovine aortic endothelial cells was dependent on Ca2+ and was sensitive to small changes in extracellular pH; maximal binding occurred at pH 7.1. Scatchard analysis indicated approximately 2.3 x 10(7) binding sites/cell with an apparent KI of 1.1 nM. The interaction was diminished specifically by competition with synthetic peptides corresponding to amino acids 54-73 (SPARC 54-73) and 254-273 (SPARC254-273). The binding of 125I-SPARC254-273, a sequence containing a Ca(2+)-binding EF-hand, was saturated within 45 min at a concentration of 5 microM; Scatchard analysis indicated 4.2 x 10(7) sites/cell and a KI of 2.4 nM. Iodinated proteins from plasma membranes were affinity-chromatographed on SPARC254-273; several proteins with apparent masses ranging from 153 to 100 kDa (unreduced) or from 153 to 122 kDa (reduced) were eluted with the soluble peptide. These proteins represent candidates for a SPARC receptor(s) that mediates the biological activity of this protein on endothelial cells.

Modulation of SPARC expression during butyrate-induced terminal differentiation of cultured human keratinocytes: regulation via a TGF-beta-dependent pathway.

Expression of SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine), a 43-kDa extracellular matrix-associated glycoprotein involved in tissue remodeling, was quantitated during normal human keratinocyte (NHK) growth in culture and as a function of sodium n-butyrate (NaB)-induced differentiation to mature enucleate cornified envelopes (CEs). Low levels of SPARC expression were observed in the basal-like cells of control NHKs, with isolated cells showing intense SPARC expression on the ventral surface. After addition of NaB, SPARC expression increased and the pattern of expression shifted to one involving predominantly suprabasal cells (i.e., spinous cells, pre-CEs, and mature CEs). Dense deposits of SPARC often surrounded the mature CEs. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that approximately 13% of NHKs expressed SPARC within 24 h of seeding into culture. This fraction of SPARC+ cells increased with time and peaked immediately postconfluence (31.3 +/- 6.3% SPARC+). Cellular SPARC expression then decreased to baseline levels during entrance into plateau phase growth. SPARC was detectable in all phases of the cell cycle. SPARC levels were more intense and heterogeneous within the G2/M and G1 phases while S phase cells exhibited relatively homogeneous, low intensity, SPARC expression. During NaB-induced NHK differentiation, SPARC intracellular content increased prior to the onset of CE formation (i.e., 2 days after its addition) followed by a period of extracellular accumulation which coincided with the time of maximal CE generation (i.e., Days 4 and 5 after NaB addition). Correlation of cell size with anti-SPARC immunoreactivity revealed a predominance of SPARC expression in cells with a suprabasal phenotype. NHKs cultured on fibronectin (FN), an established modulator of epidermal cell maturation in vitro, showed a similar response to NaB. In general, however, the level of NaB-induced SPARC expression was considerably reduced in FN cultures correlating with a lower efficiency of CE formation. Induced SPARC expression was, in large part, dependent on autocrine transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) production since incubation in the presence of NaB+neutralizing antibodies to TGF-beta inhibited both the expression of SPARC by 72% and development of mature CEs.

Characterization of human osteoblast and megakaryocyte-derived osteonectin (SPARC).

Osteonectin is an adhesive, cell, and extracellular matrix-binding glycoprotein found primarily in the matrix of bone and in blood platelets in vivo. Osteonectins isolated from these two sources differ with respect to the complexity of their constituent N-linked oligosaccharide. In this study, osteonectin synthesized by bone-forming cells (osteoblasts) and platelet-producing cells (megakaryocytes) in vitro was analyzed to determine if the proteins produced were analogous in terms of glycosylation to those isolated from bone and platelets, respectively. Immunoblot analyses of osteonectin produced by the osteoblast-like cell lines, SaOS-2 and MG-63, indicated that secreted and intracellular forms of the molecule are structurally distinct. Endoglycosidase treatment and immunoblotting of osteonectin secreted from SaOS-2 and MG-63 cells, under serum-deprived conditions, suggested that the molecule possessed a complex type oligosaccharide unlike the high-mannose moiety found on bone matrix-derived osteonectin. Biosynthetic labeling of SaOS-2 cells and human megakaryocytes indicated that both cell types synthesize osteonectin de novo. Electrophoretic and glycosidase sensitivity analyses of [35S]-osteonectin isolated from lysates of metabolically labeled SaOS-2 cells and megakaryocytes indicated that these two cell types synthesize osteonectin molecules that are identical in oligosaccharide structure to the isolated bone and platelet proteins. These data suggest that the intracellular form of the osteonectin molecule is glycosylated differently in SaOS-2 cells and megakaryocytes but that the extracellular form which is secreted from platelets in vivo and osteoblasts in vitro is characterized by the presence of a complex type N-linked oligosaccharide.