Glycosaminoglycans participate in several
biological functions in the arterial wall through their specific structures. They undergo specific compositional and structural modifications during the development of
vascular diseases. The present study was performed to determine the variations in the concentration and the structural characteristics of galactosaminoglycans--
chondroitin sulfate (CS) and
dermatan sulfate (DS)--during the progression of
atherosclerosis and aneurysmal dilatation of the human abdominal aorta. The concentration of CS was increased 24% (p < or = 0.05) in atherosclerotic type II aortas, but it was significantly decreased (29%, p < or = 0.05) in atherosclerotic type V aortas and aneurysmal aortas (65%, p < or = 0.01). In contrast, the concentration of DS was almost constant in all stages of arterial disease examined. Significant structural alterations were detected in the
disaccharide composition of galactosaminoglycans. The ratio of 6-sulfated to 4-sulfated
disaccharides was increased in atherosclerotic type II aortas (4.0 instead of 3.1 in normal aortas) due to the marked increase of CS in this tissue. This ratio was significantly decreased in atherosclerotic type V and aneurysmal aortas (2.1 and 1.6, respectively) due to the significant reduction of CS in the respective tissues. In addition, significant decrease of the oversulfated
disaccharides, which are mainly located in DS chains, was recorded in atherosclerotic and aneurysmal aortas. Particularly, deltadi-di(2,6)S were decreased 32% (p < or = 0.01) and 86% (p < or = 0.01) in atherosclerotic type II and V aortas and 88% (p < or = 0.01) in
aneurysm. Deltadi-di(2,4)S were increased in atherosclerotic type II aortas (21%, p < or = 0.01), but significantly decreased in atherosclerotic type V (33%, p < or = 0.01) and aneurysmal aortas (56%, p < or = 0.01). The amounts of deltadi-di(4,6)S were not markedly affected in the diseased tissues. These results suggest that the concentration of galactosaminoglycans is differentially affected during the progression of
atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the development of
vascular disease is associated with specific structural modifications, especially with the significant reduction of particular types of oversulfated
disaccharides, which may play essential
biological roles in the arterial wall.