A cartilage-derived growth factor enhances hyaluronate synthesis and diminishes sulfated glycosaminoglycan synthesis in chondrocytes.

Cartilage-derived growth factor purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography on columns of heparin-Sepharose was mitogenic for early passage bovine fetal chondrocytes. Hyaluronate and sulfated glycosaminoglycan synthesis in these cells was analyzed by differential enzymatic digestion of the glycosaminoglycans labeled with [14C] glucosamine or [35S]. It was found that chondrocyte proliferation was accompanied by about a four-fold increase in hyaluronate synthesis over a two-day period, while the synthesis of sulfated glycosaminoglycans decreased by about 2-fold. Chromatographic analysis of the sulfated glycosaminoglycans showed decreases in chondroitin 4 and 6 sulfates. It was concluded from these results that cartilage-derived growth factor was a proliferative factor for chondrocytes and differed from the somatomedins.