Comparative studies of the acid mucopolysaccharide composition of rheumatic and normal heart valves in man.

Abstract

SUMMARY The nature and relative proportions of acid mucopolysacharides (AMPS) in mitral valves of normal individuals and individuals with rheumatic valvular disease were compared. The total AMPS content of valves from rheumatic patients under 21 years of age is significantly higher than that from older rheumatic patients and higher than that from age-matched normal controls. The major AMPS components of both normal and rheumatic valvular tissue are hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate A/C, and chondroitin sulfate B. Valves from normal individuals in all age groups studied contain approximately 65% hyaluronic acid, 25% chondroitin sulfate A/C, and 10% chondroitin sulfate B. Valves from rheumatic patients under 40 years of age contain the same proportions of these components as do normal valves. However, valves from rheumatic patients above 40 years of age show a marked alteration in AMPS composition; they contain 35% hyaluronic acid, 47% chondroitin sulfate A/C, and 18% chondroitin sulfate B. The differences in total AMPS content between valves from young rheumatic and nonrheumatic individuals may reflect changes that are secondary to the acute inflammatory process or an abnormality in AMPS synthesis following acute injury that is peculiar to the rheumatic host. The alterations in AMPS content and composition in valves of older rheumatic patients probably reflect changes in AMPS turnover associated with fibrosis that occurs in chronic disease of valvular tissue.

Metabolism of complex carbohydrates by fibroblasts from rheumatic and normal human subjects.

“…Earlier studies on the AMPS content of mitral valvular tissue obtained from normal and rheumatic individuals revealed that valvular tissue from young rheumatic individuals contained significantly more AMPS than age-matched normal controls (Baig et al, 1978). The results of the studies reported here did not reveal similar difference in the AMPS content of skin fibroblasts of normal and rheumatic individuals.…”

“…Circ Res 46: 651-659, 1980 THE SPECIFIC lesions of acute rheumatic fever which occur in the heart, joints, and, to a lesser degree, in other organs are swelling and hyalinization of the collagenous ground substance of the fibrous tissue (Klinge, 1933). The susceptibility of certain individuals to this complication of group A streptococcal infection has raised the possibility of an inherent abnormality in the reaction of the tissue of rheumatic individuals to injury (Baig et al, 1978). Because acid mucopolysaccharides (AMPS) are primary components of the ground substance of valvular tissue, we undertook in a previous study to determine whether differences were present in the AMPS composition of rheumatic and non-rheumatic valvular tissue (Baig et al, 1978).…”

“…The susceptibility of certain individuals to this complication of group A streptococcal infection has raised the possibility of an inherent abnormality in the reaction of the tissue of rheumatic individuals to injury (Baig et al, 1978). Because acid mucopolysaccharides (AMPS) are primary components of the ground substance of valvular tissue, we undertook in a previous study to determine whether differences were present in the AMPS composition of rheumatic and non-rheumatic valvular tissue (Baig et al, 1978). The results of that study revealed that the total AMPS content of mitral valvular tissue from young patients with rheumatic valvular disease was significantly higher than that of nonrheumatic valvular tissue (Baig et al, 1978).…”

“…Because acid mucopolysaccharides (AMPS) are primary components of the ground substance of valvular tissue, we undertook in a previous study to determine whether differences were present in the AMPS composition of rheumatic and non-rheumatic valvular tissue (Baig et al, 1978). The results of that study revealed that the total AMPS content of mitral valvular tissue from young patients with rheumatic valvular disease was significantly higher than that of nonrheumatic valvular tissue (Baig et al, 1978). Differences in AMPS composition of valvular tissue also were present in rheumatic and nonrheumatic individuals of all ages.…”

Stability and function of glycosaminoglycans in porcine bioprosthetic heart valves

“…These studies include one in which we showed that the calcification of Glut fixed cusps in the rat subdermal model was accompanied by a marked decrease in GAG content and a concomitant increase in GAGdegrading enzyme activities [11]. Lower quantities of GAGs have also been reported in calcified natural valves [43], as well as in clinically failed, calcified BHVs [15]. Using the rat subdermal model it has also previously been demonstrated that the extraction of GAGs before Glut fixation stimulated the calcification of bovine pericardium [44] and conversely, the covalent immobilization of hyaluronic acid mitigated pericardial calcification [45].…”