Mucin Coatings Suppress Neutrophil Adhesion to a Polymeric Model Biomaterial

N-Glycan Modifications with Negative Charge in a Natural Polymer Mucin from Bovine Submaxillary Glands, and Their Structural Role

Bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM) is a natural polymer used in biomaterial applications for its viscoelasticity, lubricity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. N-glycans are important for mucin stability and function, but their structures have not been fully characterized, unlike that of O-glycans. In this study, BSM N-glycans were investigated using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The microheterogeneous structures of 32 N-glycans were identified, and the quantities (%) of each N-glycan relative to total N-glycans (100%) were obtained. The terminal N-acetylgalactosamines in 12 N-glycans (sum of relative quantities; 27.9%) were modified with mono- (10 glycans) and disulfations (2 glycans). Total concentration of all sulfated N-glycans was 6.1 pmol in BSM (20 µg), corresponding to 25.3% of all negatively charged glycans (sum of present N-glycans and reported O-glycans). No N-glycans with sialylated or phosphorylated forms were identified, and sulfate modification ions were the only negative charges in BSM N-glycans. Mucin structures, including sulfated N-glycans located in the hydrophobic terminal regions, were indicated. This is the first study to identify the structures and quantities of 12 sulfated N-glycans in natural mucins. These sulfations play important structural roles in hydration, viscoelasticity control, protection from bacterial sialidases, and polymer stabilization to support the functionality of BSM via electrostatic interactions.

Human saliva and model saliva at bulk to adsorbed phases - similarities and differences

Human saliva, a seemingly simple aqueous fluid, is, in fact, an extraordinarily complex biocolloid that is not fully understood, despite many decades of study. Salivary lubrication is widely believed to be a signature of good oral health and is also crucial for speech, food oral processing and swallowing. However, saliva has been often neglected in food colloid research, primarily due to its high intra- to inter-individual variability and altering material properties upon collection and storage, when used as an ex vivo research material. In the last few decades, colloid scientists have attempted designing model (i.e. 'saliva mimicking fluid') salivary formulations to understand saliva-food colloid interactions in an in vitro set up and its contribution on microstructural aspects, lubrication properties and sensory perception. In this Review, we critically examine the current state of knowledge on bulk and interfacial properties of model saliva in comparison to real human saliva and highlight how far such model salivary formulations can match the properties of real human saliva. Many, if not most, of these model saliva formulations share similarities with real human saliva in terms of biochemical compositions, including electrolytes, pH and concentrations of salivary proteins, such as α-amylase and highly glycosylated mucins. This, together with similarities between model and real saliva in terms of surface charge, has led to significant advancement in decoding various colloidal interactions (bridging, depletion) of charged emulsion droplets and associated sensory perception in the oral phase. However, model saliva represents significant dissimilarity to real saliva in terms of lubricating properties. Based on in-depth examination of properties of mucins derived from animal sources (e.g. pig gastric mucins (PGM) or bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM)), we can recommend that BSM is currently the most optimal commercially available mucin source when attempting to replicate saliva based on surface adsorption and lubrication properties. Even though purification via dialysis or chromatographic techniques may influence various physicochemical properties of BSM, such as structure and surface adsorption, the lubricating properties of model saliva formulations based on BSM are generally superior and more reliable than the PGM counterpart at orally relevant pH. Comparison of mucin-containing model saliva with ex vivo human salivary conditioning films suggests that mucin alone cannot replicate the lubricity of real human salivary pellicle. Mucin-based multi-layers containing mucin and oppositely charged polyelectrolytes may offer promising avenues in the future for engineering biomimetic salivary pellicle, however, this has not been explored in oral tribology experiments to date. Hence, there is a strong need for systematic studies with employment of model saliva formulations containing mucins with and without polycationic additives before a consensus on a standardized model salivary formulation can be achieved. Overall, this review provides the first comprehensive framework on simulating saliva for a particular bulk or surface property when doing food oral processing experiments.

Structural and Mechanical Properties of Thin Films of Bovine Submaxillary Mucin versus Porcine Gastric Mucin on a Hydrophobic Surface in Aqueous Solutions

The structural and mechanical properties of thin films generated from two types of mucins, namely, bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM) and porcine gastric mucin (PGM) in aqueous environment were investigated with several bulk and surface analytical techniques. Both mucins generated hydrated films on hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces from spontaneous adsorption arising from their amphiphilic characteristic. However, BSM formed more elastic films than PGM at neutral pH condition. This structural difference was manifested from the initial film formation processes to the responses to shear stresses applied to the films. Acidification of environmental pH led to strengthening the elastic character of BSM films with increased adsorbed mass, whereas an opposite trend was observed for PGM films. We propose that this contrast originates from that negatively charged motifs are present for both the central and terminal regions of BSM molecule, whereas a similar magnitude of negative charges is localized at the termini of PGM molecule. Given that hydrophobic motifs acting as an anchor are also localized in the terminal region, electrostatic repulsion between anchoring units of PGM molecules on a nonpolar PDMS surface leads to weakening of the mechanical integrity of the films.

A simplified chromatographic approach to purify commercially available bovine submaxillary mucins (BSM)

In this study, a simple purification protocol is developed to reduce the bovine serum albumin (BSA) content in commercially available bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM). This involved purification of the BSM by one-column anion-exchange chromatography protocol resulting in BSM with greatly reduced BSA content and homogeneously distributed size, and in a high yield of ∼43% from BSM as received from the manufacturer. The purity and composition of commercially acquired BSM were assessed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and mass spectrometry, which verified that BSA is the most abundant nonmucinous protein component. The purification effect was evident from a significantly altered circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of BSM after anion-exchange chromatography.

Cysteamine (Lynovex®), a novel mucoactive antimicrobial & antibiofilm agent for the treatment of cystic fibrosis

Background

There remains a critical need for more effective, safe, long-term treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF). Any successful therapeutic strategy designed to combat the respiratory pathology of this condition must address the altered lung physiology and recurrent, complex, polymicrobial infections and biofilms that affect the CF pulmonary tract. Cysteamine is a potential solution to these unmet medical needs and is described here for the first time as (Lynovex®) a single therapy with the potential to deliver mucoactive, antibiofilm and antibacterial properties; both in oral and inhaled delivery modes. Cysteamine is already established in clinical practice for an unrelated orphan condition, cystinosis, and is therefore being repurposed (in oral form) for cystic fibrosis from a platform of over twenty years of safety data and clinical experience.

Methods

The antibacterial and antibiofilm attributes of cysteamine were determined against type strain and clinical isolates of CF relevant pathogens using CLSI standard and adapted microbiological methods and a BioFlux microfluidic system. Assays were performed in standard nutrient media conditions, minimal media, to mimic the low metabolic activity of microbes/persister cells in the CF respiratory tract and in artificial sputum medium. In vivo antibacterial activity was determined in acute murine lung infection/cysteamine nebulisation models. The mucolytic potential of cysteamine was assessed against DNA and mucin in vitro by semi-quantitative macro-rheology. In all cases, the ‘gold standard’ therapeutic agents were employed as control/comparator compounds against which the efficacy of cysteamine was compared.

Results

Cysteamine demonstrated at least comparable mucolytic activity to currently available mucoactive agents. Cysteamine was rapidly bactericidal against both metabolically active and persister cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and also emerging CF pathogens; its activity was not sensitive to high ionic concentrations characteristic of the CF lung. Cysteamine prevented the formation of, and disrupted established P. aeruginosa biofilms. Cysteamine was synergistic with conventional CF antibiotics; reversing antibiotic resistance/insensitivity in CF bacterial pathogens.

Conclusions

The novel mucolytic-antimicrobial activity of cysteamine (Lynovex®) provides potential for a much needed new therapeutic strategy in cystic fibrosis. The data we present here provides a platform for cysteamine’s continued investigation as a novel treatment for this poorly served orphan disease.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13023-014-0189-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Mucin covalently bonded to microfibers improves the patency of vascular grafts

Due to high incidence of vascular bypass procedures, an unmet need for suitable vessel replacements exists, especially for small-diameter (<6 mm) vascular grafts. Here, we developed a novel, bilayered, synthetic vascular graft of 1-mm diameter that consisted of a microfibrous luminal layer and a nanofibrous outer layer, which was tailored to possess the same mechanical property as native arteries. We then chemically modified the scaffold with mucin, a glycoprotein lubricant on the surface of epithelial tissues, by either passive adsorption or covalent bonding using the di-amino-poly(ethylene glycol) linker to microfibers. Under static and physiological flow conditions, conjugated mucin was more stable than adsorbed mucin on the surfaces. Mucin could slightly inhibit blood clotting, and mucin coating suppressed platelet adhesion on microfibrous scaffolds. In the rat common carotid artery anastomosis model, grafts with conjugated mucin, but not adsorbed mucin, exhibited excellent patency and higher cell infiltration into the graft walls. Mucin, which can be easily obtained from autologous sources, offers a novel method for improving the hemocompatibility and surface lubrication of vascular grafts and many other implants.

Cell patterning with mucin biopolymers

The precise spatial control of cell adhesion to surfaces is an endeavor that has enabled discoveries in cell biology and new possibilities in tissue engineering. The generation of cell-repellent surfaces currently requires advanced chemistry techniques and could be simplified. Here we show that mucins, glycoproteins of high structural and chemical complexity, spontaneously adsorb on hydrophobic substrates to form coatings that prevent the surface adhesion of mammalian epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and myoblasts. These mucin coatings can be patterned with micrometer precision using a microfluidic device, and are stable enough to support myoblast differentiation over seven days. Moreover, our data indicate that the cell-repellent effect is dependent on mucin-associated glycans because their removal results in a loss of effective cell-repulsion. Last, we show that a critical surface density of mucins, which is required to achieve cell-repulsion, is efficiently obtained on hydrophobic surfaces, but not on hydrophilic glass surfaces. However, this limitation can be overcome by coating glass with hydrophobic fluorosilane. We conclude that mucin biopolymers are attractive candidates to control cell adhesion on surfaces.

Potential use of mucins as biomaterial coatings. II. Mucin coatings affect the conformation and neutrophil-activating properties of adsorbed host proteins--toward a mucosal mimic

In continuation of our recent fractionation and characterization study on mucins of bovine salivary (BSM), porcine gastric (PGM), and human salivary (MG1) origin, this study evaluates the effect of mucin precoating on the conformation and neutrophil-activating properties of host proteins adsorbed to a polyethylene terephthalate-based model biomaterial. Microscopy combined with assays for the neutrophil releases of reactive oxygen species and human neutrophil lipocalin showed that mucin precoating greatly reduced the strong immune-response normally induced by adsorbed immunoglobulin G (IgG) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), respectively. A similar finding was made for the proinflammatory fibrinogen. Although the total uptakes of these proteins depended on the mucin surface concentration, a detailed composite analysis suggested the fraction of surface-exposed protein to be a stronger determinant of coating performance. The unexpectedly low neutrophil activation showed by composites containing near-monolayer concentrations of exposed IgG and sIgA, respectively, suggested that these act synergistically with mucin on the surface. In support of this hypothesis, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring measurements revealed that a preadsorbed BSM layer stabilizes IgG through complexation on a polymeric model surface. Our findings link well to the complex in vivo situation and suggest that functional mucosal mimics can be created in situ for improved biomaterials performance.

Comparison of the adsorption kinetics and surface arrangement of "as received" and purified bovine submaxillary gland mucin (BSM) on hydrophilic surfaces

The effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA) as impurity in a commercial bovine submaxillary gland mucin preparation (BSM; Sigma M3895) on the adsorption of BSM to hydrophilic surfaces (mica and silica) has been studied in terms of adsorption kinetics, amount and structure of the formed adlayer. The Surface Force Apparatus (SFA) was used to gain information about the extended and compressed structure of adsorbed "as received" BSM, purified BSM, BSA extracted from the "as received" BSM and mixtures of the latter purified proteins. The adsorbed amount was estimated using a combination of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA), Enzyme-Linked Lectin Assay (ELLA), Dual Polarization Interferometry (DPI) and Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM-D) measurements. Under the used conditions, purified BSM showed very low affinity for silica and only small amounts were found to adsorb on mica. Initially, the BSM molecules adopted an extended conformation on the mica surface with tails extending into the bulk phase. These tails were irreversibly compressed into a very thin (10A) layer upon applying a high load. "As received" BSM formed considerably thicker compressed layers (35A); however, the extended layer structure was qualitatively the same. When mixtures of purified BSM and BSA were coadsorbed on mica, a 9wt-% albumin content gave a comparable layer thickness as the "as received" BSM and from XPS data we draw the conclusion that the albumin content in the layer adsorbed from "as received" BSM was approximately 5wt-%. Adsorption from an equal amount of BSM and BSA revealed that even though the amount of BSM is scarce in the mixed layer, the few BSM molecules have a drastic effect on the adsorbed thickness and structure. Clearly, this study shows the importance of characterizing the mucin used since differences in purity give rise to different adsorption behaviours in terms of both adsorbed amount and layer structure.

Interactions between human neutrophils and mucin-coated surfaces

Recently, we showed microscopically that bovine (BSM), porcine (PGM) and human (MG1) mucin coatings could suppress the adhesion of neutrophils to a polyethylene terephthalate-based model biomaterial (Thermanox). Here, using the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a marker of material-induced neutrophil activation, the strong surface-passivating effects of these mucin coatings were corroborated. Under optimal adsorption conditions, all mucin species performed equally well, thus indicating a high degree of functional homology between the mucins. Cell adhesion and morphology correlated well with the release of ROS. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-D) analysis linked low neutrophil activation to efficient mucin surface-shielding. Interestingly, the shielding power appeared equal for thick expanded and thin compact mucin coatings. Combined mucin-serum coatings were found to be highly surface-passivating. Particularly, since our data suggested partly synergistic mucin-serum action, we highlight the possibility that pre-adsorbed mucins could provide favorable support for adsorbing host components.