Ganglioside GM3 and its biological functions.

Metabolism, topology, and possible mechanisms for regulation of the ganglioside GM3 content in the cell are reviewed. Under consideration are biological functions of GM3, such as involvement in cell differentiation, proliferation, oncogenesis, and apoptosis.

Lipid second messengers and cell signaling in vascular wall.

Agonists of cellular receptors, such as receptor tyrosine kinases, G protein-coupled receptors, cytokine receptors, etc., activate phospholipases (C(gamma), C(beta), A(2), D), sphingomyelinase, and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase. This produces active lipid metabolites, some of which are second messengers: inositol trisphosphate, diacylglycerides, ceramide, and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate. These universal mechanisms are involved in signal transduction to maintain blood vessel functions: regulation of vasodilation and vasoconstriction, mechanical stress resistance, and anticoagulant properties of the vessel lumen surface. Different signaling pathways realized through lipid second messengers interact to one another and modulate intracellular events. In early stages of atherogenesis, namely, accumulation of low density lipoproteins in the vascular wall, cascades of pro-atherogenic signal transduction are triggered through lipid second messengers. This leads to atherosclerosis, the general immuno-inflammatory disease of the vascular system.

Activation of ganglioside GM3 biosynthesis in human monocyte/macrophages during culturing in vitro.

We found that GM3 levels in human peripheral blood monocytes and cultured monocyte-derived macrophages were 0.37 and 2.7 microg per million cells, respectively. GM3 synthase of monocytes and to a greater extent of monocyte-derived macrophages was shown to be able to sialylate endogenous substrate, lactosylceramide (LacCer), to form GM3. With exogenously added LacCer, GM3 synthase activity was 57.1 and 563 pmol/h per mg protein in monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages, respectively. The revealed changes in ganglioside GM3 biosynthesis are specific as the activity of some other sialyltransferases under these conditions was not altered. Human anti-GM3 synthase antibody detected in monocytes a main protein with molecular weight of 60 kD and minor proteins with molecular masses of 52 and 64 kD. In monocyte-derived macrophages the amounts of 60 kD protein and especially 64 kD protein sharply rose. Thus, the increase in ganglioside GM3 levels, GM3 synthase activity, and the enzyme amounts during culturing of monocyte/macrophages may be one of the mechanisms of in vivo increased ganglioside GM3 levels in arterial atherosclerotic lesions.

Development of antibody to human GM3 synthase and immunodetection of the enzyme in human tissues.

Polyclonal antibody was raised to a cloned fragment of human GM3 synthase. Affinity purified R27C1 antibody to the tagged recombinant protein inhibited GM3 synthase activity in human liver and HL-60 cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, the R27C1 antibody did not affect liver sialyltransferase activity towards asialofetuin. We are the first to measure GM3 synthase activity in human liver (194 +/- 60 pmol NeuAc/h per mg protein), which was about 10-fold lower than in phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated HL-60 cells (1353 +/- 573 pmol NeuAc/h per mg protein). On immunoblotting the R27C1 antibody recognized a common protein band in a number of human tissues (liver, brain, atherosclerotic aortic intima, HL-60 cells) with molecular mass of about 60 kD, which is similar to that of the purified GM3 synthase from rat liver. In human liver and aortic intima, the 60-kD band was almost a single band, which makes possible the use of the R27C1 antibody for immunohistochemical studies in these tissues.

Sialidase activity in normal and atherosclerotic human aortic intima.

Sialidase activity has been determined in homogenates of human aortic intima by measuring the amount of GM1 formed during the incubation of ganglioside GD1a with the tissue homogenates. Areas with atherosclerotic lesions as well as adjacent areas without histological evidence of atherosclerosis were taken for comparison. The rate of GM1 formation from GD1a in the presence of homogenates of the atherosclerotic intima was 20 pmol/h per mg protein. Homogenates of the unaffected intima did not desialylate GD1a. Sialidase activity of the atherosclerotic intima was linear for 1.5 h at GD1a content up to 1.5 nmol and at homogenate protein up to 1 micro g. NH4Cl and NeuAc2en, inhibitors of lysosomal function and plasma membrane-bound sialidase, respectively, reduced sialidase activity of homogenates of the atherosclerotic intima by 94%. The results indicate that atherosclerotic lesions and unaffected intima differ in their activity and specificity of sialidases that cleave gangliosides.

Sialyltransferase activity in normal and atherosclerotic human aorta intima.

Sialyltransferase activity has been determined in Golgi membrane fractions isolated from atherosclerotic and normal intima of human aorta by measuring the transfer of N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) from CMP-NeuAc to asialofetuin. The asialofetuin-sialyltransferase activity was found to be twofold higher in the atherosclerotic intima than in the normal intima. The mean value of the apparent Michaelis constant (Km) for the sialylating enzyme in both tissues did not differ and was 57 microM. In contrast, the maximal velocity (Vmax) was 2-fold higher for the atherosclerotic intima than for the normal intima. These results suggest that expression of asialofetuin-sialyltransferases of the aortal intima may be increased in atherosclerosis.

Phenotype determination of anti-GM3 positive cells in atherosclerotic lesions of the human aorta. Hypothetical role of ganglioside GM3 in foam cell formation.

Earlier we reported that atherosclerotic plaques contain cells which were specifically and very intensively stained with anti-GM3 antibodies although no GM3 positive cells were detected in the normal non-diseased arterial intima. Because of their lipid inclusions, GM3 positive cells in atherosclerotic lesions seemed to be foam cells but their origin needed clarification. Using an immunohistochemical technique in the present work, we showed that some of these foam cells contained CD68 antigen. However, the most intense accumulation of GM3 occurred in the areas composed of foam cells which did not stain with any cell type-specific antibodies, including antibodies to macrophages (anti-CD68) and smooth muscle cells (anti-smooth muscle alpha-actin), perhaps, because the cell type-specific antigens were lost during the transformation of intimal cells into foam cells. Ultrastructural analysis of the areas where foam cells overexpressed GM3 demonstrated that some foam cells lacked both a basal membrane and myofilaments but contained a large number of secondary lysosomes and phagolysosomes, morphological features which might indicate their macrophage origin. Other foam cells contained a few myofilaments and fragments of basal membrane around their plasmalemmal membrane, suggesting a smooth muscle cell origin. These observations indicate that accumulation of excessive amounts of GM3 occurs in different cell types transforming into foam cells. We suggest that up-regulation of GM3 synthesis in intimal cells might be an essential event in foam cell formation. Shedding of a large number of membrane-bound microvesicles from the cell surface of foam cells was observed in areas of atherosclerotic lesions corresponding to extracellular GM3 accumulation. We speculate that extracellularly localised GM3 might affect the differentiation and modification of intimal cells in atherosclerotic lesions.

Ganglioside-mediated metabolic synchronization of protein synthesis activity in cultured hepatocytes.

An ultradian oscillation of protein synthesis was detected by synchronization of metabolic activity in rat hepatocyte cultures. This oscillation occurs in dense cultures in fresh medium, but not in sparse ones. Metabolic synchronization of sparse cultures, however, was initiated by conditioned medium or addition of 0.3-0.5 microm of a mixture of bovine brain gangliosides to fresh culture medium along with either 0.06-0.2 microm GM1 or 0.1-0.2 microm GDIa. GTIb and GDIb did not produce oscillations, nor did human liver ganglioside GM3. High expression of GM1 ganglioside determinants in hepatocytes maintained in the conditioned medium purified polyclonal antibodies to GM1 was coupled with protein synthetic oscillatory activity, i.e. metabolic synchronization. Incubation of dense cultures with GM1-antibodies for 24 h decreased the amplitude of these oscillations. In sparse cultures maintained in fresh medium where protein synthesis showed no oscillatory pattern, GM1 expression was low.

Plasma sialyltransferase activity in healthy subjects and atherosclerotic patients.

Plasma sialyltransferase activity measured by incorporation of cytidine 5;-phospho[14C]acetylneuraminic acid (CMP-NeuAc) into asialofetuin was twofold higher in patients with documented atherosclerosis than in healthy donors. Kinetic studies showed that the enzyme affinity for CMP-NeuAc is the same in donors and patients. Low activity of plasma sialyltransferase in donors may be due to low blood content of this enzyme.

Autoantibodies to gangliosides in sera of atherosclerotic patients.

Using ELISA we studied the levels and clinical correlation of serum antibodies against gangliosides and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in patients with atherosclerosis and clinical manifestations of cardiovascular disease. A range of 70-80% of the patients showed higher titers of anti-GM3(L) and anti-5HT as compared to normal serum. The anti-GM3(L) antibodies appeared to be directed mainly against GM3 present in platelets and were much less reactive against GM3 isolated from the aorta. We concluded that the antigens responsible for the elevated anti-GM3(L) and anti 5-HT levels in atherosclerotic sera are released by vessel-wall activated platelets. These results provide further evidence of on-going autoimmune processes in atherosclerosis. The content of total sialic (TS) and lipid-bound sialic acid (LBS) was measured in sera of patients with IHD and of similar numbers of healthy donors. In the patient groups the average TS and LBS concentration was about 25% higher than in the control group. These changes appeared to be associated with higher degrees of protein sialylation and larger amounts of LDL in the patient sera than in those of healthy controls.

Immunoreactivity of apolipoprotein B-100 and binding to LDL-receptor of phospholipase A2-treated low density lipoproteins.

Lipid--protein particles were obtained by treatment of low density lipoproteins (LDL) with phospholipase A2 from bee venom. Under these conditions, half of the phosphatidylcholine (PC) of LDL was changed to lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). At the same time, the composition of other lipids and the apoprotein structure were unaffected. Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against various apo B epitopes were used to test immunoreactivity of phospholipase A2-treated LDL (pl-LDL). The apo B epitope interacting with MAb 4C11 (amino acid residues 2377-2658) showed significantly decreased immunoreactivity. Increase in MAb 4C11 binding was demonstrated to depend on oxidation degree of LDL. Thus, changing of half of PC to LPC modified apo B translocation in the lipoprotein globule in an opposite manner as compared with changes induced by oxidative modification. A minor increase in immunoreactivity of pl-LDL with 1D1 MAb against a large middle part of apo B (residues 1297-3249) may be due to the effect of the change of surface lipid composition on the extent of immersion of apo B into the hydrophobic phase. No changes in the interaction of pl-LDL with MAb 2G8 (residues 3748-4306) were observed in comparison with native LDL. This fact demonstrates that 50% phospholipolysis of LDL does not affect the expression of apo B C-terminal residues in pl-LDL. Twofold increase in pl-LDL affinity to immobilized LDL-receptor was shown in contrast to LDL. The data indicate that LPC accumulation in LDL results in better elimination of LDL from the blood stream than in case of accumulation of oxidative products.

Incorporation and localisation of ganglioside GM3 in human intimal atherosclerotic lesions.

Immunohistochemical examination showed that sections of intimal atherosclerotic plaques contained cells and cell clusters as well as areas of extracellular matrix specifically stained with antibodies against ganglioside GM3. No immunohistochemical staining was observed in areas bordering the plaques where there was no histological evidence of atherosclerosis. To determine whether the ganglioside GM3 deposits in the intimal plaques derived directly from plasma or were synthesised by intimal cells. intimal plaque and plasma LDL were assayed for ganglioside GM3 fatty acid composition. This assay showed that more than 50% of the fatty acids of GM3 isolated from both atherosclerotic and normal intima are either minor fatty acids or those absent from LDL GM3. We conclude that the GM3 deposits present in intimal plaque arise in intimal cells and do not derive from plasma LDL.

[Autoantibodies to ganglioside GM3 and serotonin in blood serum in atherosclerosis]. / Autoantitela k gangliozidu GM3 i serotoninu v syvorotke krovi pri ateroskleroze.

Using ELISA method, the sera from 17 patients with atherosclerosis and 13 normal controls were examined for ganglioside- and serotonin-reactive antibodies. Gangliosides from human liver (GM31) and human aorta (GM3a) as well as GM2, GM1, GT1b, human brain cerebrosides and the BSA-serotonin conjugate (5-HT) were used as antigens. A group of patients showed statistically significant higher levels of anti-GM31 (82%) and anti-5-HT (71%) as compared to the control group. Taking into account the identical fatty acid composition of GM3 from human liver and platelets, one can assume that antibodies are produced against blood clot gangliosides in atherosclerotic patients' sera. This conclusion is supported by a high correlation (r = 0.06, p < 0.01) between the level of antibodies to 5-HT and GM31 in the sera of all patients. The sera of three patients with the highest content of antibodies to GM31 were shown to contain antibodies to GM3a and GT1b which were absent in control sera. No reaction with brain cerebrosides or GM1 and GM2 was detected in the sera of the examined persons. The differences in sera reactions with GM31 and GM3a can be explained as resulting from differences in the chain length of fatty acid residues of the ceramide moiety of gangliosides. The data obtained confirm the fact that antibodies to aorta gangliosides appear in the sera of atherosclerotic patients. Thus, the formation of atherosclerotic plaques leading to platelet activation, clot formation and ganglioside accumulation in aortic cells increase the levels of anti-ganglioside GM3 antibodies.

[Blood sialic acids in atherosclerosis]. / Sialovye kisloty syvorotki krovi pri ateroskleroze.

Determination of the total (protein- and lipid-bound) sialic acid in blood sera of atherosclerotic patients (registered thickening of coronary vessels) and donors revealed that the concentration of the both types of sialic acids in the blood sera of atherosclerotic patients are increased. The concentration of total sialic acid in patients' sera was, on the average, by 20% higher than that in donors' sera. The identity of protein content in patients' and donors' sera suggests that under atherosclerosis serum proteins are sialated in a greater degree as compared to norm. The concentration of lipid-bound sialic acid in patients' sera is higher than that in donors' sera. However, calculated per blood cholesterol, the concentration of lipid-bound sialic acid is practically identical in both patient and donors, thus indicating that increased sialoglycolipid content in patients' sera correlates with increased lipoprotein content in these sera in comparison with norm.

[The effect of fluorinated prostaglandins on platelet aggregation]. / Vliianie ftorirovannykh prostaglandinov na agregatsiiu trombotsitov.

The effects of fluorodeoxy prostanoids on platelet aggregability were studied. It was shown that introduction of fluorine into positions 9, 11 or 15 of prostaglandin F2 alpha led to enhanced proaggregation activity. The most active compound among fluorodeoxy analogs was 15-fluoro derivative; bisfluoro analog was moderately active, and 11-fluoro compound had the least activity. In the group of fluorodeoxy prostaglandins E2, a contrary effect was registered. Thus, the most active compound was 1-fluoride and the least, 15-fluoride. The incorporation of fluorine into position 15 of prostacyclin led to insignificantly lower antiaggregatory activity just as this modification of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha was accompanied by a dramatic increase in its ability to inhibit platelet aggregation.

Nanomolar concentrations of prostaglandin E1 induce changes in the surface organization of high-density lipoproteins.

Incubation of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) with small amounts of the prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) results in mobilization of the spin-label 5-doxylstearic acid incorporated into the HDL surface monolayer as well as in decreased binding of apoprotein A1 antibodies to the HDL surface. These effects are manifested at strikingly low PGE1 concentrations, corresponding to one prostaglandin molecule per 10(2)-10(3) lipoprotein particles. At the same time, the flotation properties of HDL are not changed in the presence of PGE1. The data are interpreted on the basis of a nonequilibrium model proposed earlier for prostaglandin-lipoprotein interactions (Bergelson, L. D., et al. (1987) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 921, 182-190).

The gangliosides of adult human aorta: intima, media and plaque.

The composition, structure and localization of gangliosides of aorta taken from subjects who had died after myocardial infarction were studied. Individual gangliosides were purified by high-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance thin-layer chromatography and were characterized on the basis of their chromatographic mobility, carbohydrate composition, neuraminidase hydrolysis and methylation analysis. The main aortic gangliosides were identified as GM3, GM1, GD3, GD1a and GT1b. Significant differences in the ganglioside composition of intima and media were detected and the ganglioside profile of atherosclerotic plaques was found to differ markedly from that of unaffected intima. The latter was characterized by high content of GD3, a ganglioside thought to be associated with membrane permeability, cell interaction, adhesiveness and growth and to suppress unspecific immune responses. Possible implications of the results in low-density lipoprotein binding to the arterial wall and in immunological changes induced by atherosclerotic lesions are discussed.

Influence of prostaglandins on the lipid transfer between human high density and low density lipoproteins.

Prostaglandin (PG) E1 was demonstrated to stimulate the transfer of phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol esters from human high density lipoproteins (HDL3) to low density lipoproteins (LDL). The enhancement effect of PGE1 on the interlipoprotein lipid transfer was seen at low PG concentrations under conditions of spontaneous exchange as well as in the presence of lipoprotein-depleted plasma, or partly purified plasma lipid exchange protein. PGE2 and PGF2 alpha showed no significant influence on the interlipoprotein lipid transfer. Evidence is presented suggesting that the PGE1-induced stimulation of interlipoprotein lipid exchange results in enhancement of LCAT-catalyzed cholesterol esterification in plasma. It is proposed that the effect of PGE1 is due to the previously described PGE1-induced reorganization of the HDL surface [(1984) FEBS Lett. 173, 291-293] and that PG-lipoprotein interaction may be a factor regulating cholesterol homeostasis.

[Study of prostaglandins and thromboxanes B2 using mass-spectrometry of secondary ions]. / Issledovanie prostaglandinov i tromboksanov B2 metodom mass-spektrometrii vtorichnykh ionov.

Prostaglandins E, F, I2 and thromboxane B2 have been studied by secondary ion mass spectrometry. It is shown that the method is suitable for direct identification of these compounds either as free acids or as their sodium salts. The spectra of the former reveal their structural features, while with the latter information on the molecular weight can be obtained. The limit of detection (about 1 microgram) allows the analysis of prostaglandin solutions of 1 microgram/microliter concentrations used in pharmacological tests.

[Neutral glycolipids of the calf thymus and normal and leukemic bovine lymphocytes]. / Neitral'nye glikolipidy timusa telenka i limfotsitov krupnogo rogatogo skota v norme i pri limfoleikoze.

The composition and structure of the neutral glycolipids of calf thymus and of lymphocytes isolated from the blood, lymph, lymph nodes and spleen of normal and leukemic cows were investigated. The main neutral glycolipids of all lymphocytes studied were identified as glucosyl, lactosyl and digalactosylglucosylceramides. The relative amounts of these glycolipids were found to depend on lymphocyte localization. Leukemic lymphocytes showed differences in the glycolipid composition in comparison with normal lymphocytes: in all preparations the level of glucosylceramide increased with a concomitant decrease of the amounts of di-and trihexaosylceramides. For leukemic blood lymphocytes the monohexaosyl-/dihexaosylceramide ratio was found to increase at increasing lymphocyte concentrations in the blood.