Acidic glycosaminoglycans of SV40-transformed Werner's syndrome cells

Acidic glycosaminoglycans (AGAGs) were isolated from the culture fluids of a SV40-transformed permanent line (PSV811) of the Werner syndrome skin cells and of a SV40-transformed permanent line (VA13) of WI-38 normal lung cells. The relative composition of component AGAGs was estimated by acetate membrane electrophoresis followed by Alcian blue staining and desitometry. Hyaluronic acid (HA) was the major AGAG component in all the preparations tested. The relative content of HA fluctuated considerably among the preparations obtained in independent experiments and among the results using three different buffer systems. However, the proportion of HA was persistently greater in PSV811 culture fluid than in VA13 culture fluid. VA13 cells released an appreciable amount of heparan sulfate as the second major AGAG component, but PSV811 released only a small amount. These results show a difference between the two cell lines, and suggest that PSV811 may possibly reflect the association of the Werner syndrome with abnormal HA metabolism.