Sulfated derivatives of Escherichia coli K5 polysaccharides as modulators of fibroblast growth factor signaling

Heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans are intimately involved in the regulation of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling. HS and the related glycosaminoglycan heparin interact with FGFs and FGF receptors (FGFRs), and it is believed that both interactions are required for productive FGF signaling. Attempts to inhibit FGF activity have been made with modified heparin preparations, various heparin-like polysaccharide analogues and other polyanionic molecules, which may all act by interfering with the physiological HS-FGF-FGFR interactions on the cell surface. Here, we have studied the potential of sulfated derivatives of a bacterial polysaccharide (capsular polysaccharide from Escherichia coli K5 (K5PS)) in the modulation of FGF-heparin/HS interactions and FGF signaling. We demonstrate that O-sulfated and N, O-sulfated species of K5PS, with high degrees of sulfation, displaced FGF-1, FGF-2, and FGF-8b from heparin. However, only O-sulfated K5PS efficiently inhibited the FGF-induced proliferation of S115 mammary carcinoma cells and 3T3 fibroblasts, whereas N, O-sulfated K5PS had little or no inhibitory effect. Studies with CHO677 cells lacking endogenous HS, as well as with chlorate-treated S115 cells expressing undersulfated HS, indicated that whereas exogenously administered heparin and N, O-sulfated K5PS restored the cellular response toward FGF stimulation, O-sulfated K5PS was largely devoid of such stimulatory activity. Our data suggest that highly O-sulfated species of K5PS may be efficient inhibitors of FGF signaling.