Inhibition of DNA synthesis and tube morphogenesis of cultured vascular endothelial cells by chondromodulin-1

Cartilage is an avascular tissue, and exhibits anti-angiogenic properties. Cartilage extracts have been shown to contain an inhibitor for DNA synthesis in vascular endothelial cells in vitro, Here me purified the inhibitory activity in the 10-50 kDa fraction of guanidine extracts from fetal bovine epiphyseal cartilage, and found that the inhibitor was identical with chondromodulin-I (ChM-I), Purified ChM-I inhibited tube morphogenesis of cultured vascular endothelial cells, as well as DNA synthesis, These results indicate that cartilage-specific glycoprotein ChM-I may participate in the maintenance of avascularity and anti-angiogenic properties of cartilage. (C) 1997 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.