Immunological Methods for the Detection and Determination of Connective Tissue Proteoglycans

Abstract

In this paper we report the use of immunological methods for specifically detecting and determining proteoglycan in cartilage and other connective tissues. Antibodies (polyclonal and monoclonal) have been raised against specific components of cartilage proteoglycan aggregates (i.e., proteoglycan monomer and link protein). Radioimmunoassay procedures and immunohistochemical procedures have been developed and used to demonstrate the occurrence of cartilage-like proteoglycan and link protein in bovine aorta. Similarly, immunofluorescent studies have been used to analyze proteoglycan distribution in skin. Using antibodies specific for chondroitin-4-sulfated proteoglycan, their presence was demonstrated in dermal connective tissue and connective tissue surrounding nerve and muscle sheaths. However, chondroitin-4-sulfated proteoglycan was completely absent in the epidermis of skin and areas surrounding invaginating hair follicles. These immunological procedures are currently being used to complement conventional biochemical analyses of proteoglycans found in different connective tissue matrices.