Effect of hyperthermia on the extracellular matrix. I. Heat enhances hyaluronan and inhibits sulphated glycosaminoglycan synthesis.

The synthesis of sulphated glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and hyaluronan (HA) was studied in 3 cell strains incubated at 37 degrees C or 42 degrees C. Cells were labelled with [3H]glucosamine and [35S]sulphate. No incorporation of [35S]sulphate was observed at 42 degrees C. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis of GAGs synthesized at 42 degrees C showed only one [3H]glucosamine-labelled band completely digested with Streptomyces hyaluronidase. The quantification of [3H]glucosamine-labelled GAGs before and after hyaluronidase treatment indicated an increased rate of HA synthesis at 42 degrees C as compared to the rate of synthesis at 37 degrees C. These results suggest that hyperthermia stimulates HA synthesis and inhibits sulphated GAG synthesis in several cell strains which in turn may contribute to the modification of extracellular environment in inflammation.