Defective N-sulfation of heparan sulfate proteoglycans limits PDGF-BB binding and pericyte recruitment in vascular development

• During vascular development, endothelial platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-B) is critical for pericyte recruitment. Deletion of the conserved C-terminal heparin-binding motif impairs PDGF-BB retention and pericyte recruitment in vivo, suggesting a potential role for heparan sulfate (HS) in PDGF-BB function during vascular development. We studied the participation of HS chains in pericyte recruitment using two mouse models with altered HS biosynthesis. Reduction of N-sulfation due to deficiency in N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase-1 attenuated PDGF-BB binding in vitro, and led to pericyte detachment and delayed pericyte migration in vivo. Reduced N-sulfation also impaired PDGF-BB signaling and directed cell migration, but not proliferation. In contrast, HS from glucuronyl C5-epimerase mutants, which is extensively N- and 6-O-sulfated, but lacks 2-O-sulfated L-iduronic acid residues, retained PDGF-BB in vitro, and pericyte recruitment in vivo was only transiently delayed. These observations were supported by in vitro characterization of the structural features in HS important for PDGF-BB binding. We conclude that pericyte recruitment requires HS with sufficiently extended and appropriately spaced N-sulfated domains to retain PDGF-BB and activate PDGF receptor β (PDGFRβ) signaling, whereas the detailed sequence of monosaccharide and sulfate residues does not appear to be important for this interaction.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Cell- och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Cell and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Utvecklingsbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Developmental Biology (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Genetik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Genetics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

smooth-muscle-cells

growth-factor

diabetic-retinopathy

neonatal lethality

mouse-brain

a-chain

mice

identification

deficient

domain

PDGF-B

MEDICINE

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)