Elevated glucose decreases the content of a basement membrane associated heparan sulphate proteoglycan in proliferating cultured porcine mesangial cells.

The effect of elevated glucose concentrations on the synthesis of basement membrane components was investigated in proliferating cultured porcine mesangial cells. Basement membrane associated heparan sulphate proteoglycan was determined by enzyme immunoassay with a specific antiserum recognizing the core protein of the heparan sulphate proteoglycan. When cells were exposed to increasing glucose concentrations up to 40 mmol/l, the heparan sulphate proteoglycan content was concomitantly decreased to 53% when compared to cells cultured under normal glucose concentrations or in the presence of 40 mmol/l sorbitol. The fibronectin content was essentially unchanged under these conditions. No significant effect of insulin on these basement membrane components was found. The results indicate that hyperglycaemia may be responsible for a decrease of mesangial heparan sulphate proteoglycan content in diabetes mellitus. This supports the view that loss of heparan sulphate proteoglycan may be an important step or even an initial event of mesangial alterations in diabetic glomerulopathy.