Effect of oxygen-derived reactive species on cartilage proteoglycan-hyaluronate aggregates

Proteoglycan-hyaluronate aggregates were incubated with oxygen-derived reactive species generated enzymatically by the action of xanthine oxidase upon hypoxanthine. Analysis of the products of the incubation by caesium sulphate zonal sedimentation revealed that degradation of aggregate had occurred. This effect was reversed by inclusion of superoxide dismutase, catalase or diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid in the incubations suggesting that hydroxyl radicals were the active species. Separate analysis by gel filtration chromatography on Sepharose CL-2B of proteoglycan monomer subjected to a similar treatment indicated that the molecule is minimally degraded. These results are discussed with reference to the well established degradation of hyaluronate by oxygen-derived reactive species.