Inhibition of serum‐induced proliferation of bovine tracheal smooth muscle cells in culture by heparin and related glycosaminoglycans

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Abstract
1 The effect of heparin and related glycosaminoglycans on bovine airway smooth muscle proliferation has been investigated.2 Foetal bovine serum stimulated division of bovine trachealis smooth muscle cells in a concentration‐dependent fashion at concentrations between 1 and 30%.3 Heparin (0.1–100 μg ml‐1), heparan sulphate (0.1–100 μg ml−1) and fragmin (0.1–100 μg ml−1) inhibited smooth muscle division in a concentration‐dependent fashion between 0.1–100 μg ml−1. A heparin disaccharide did not exhibit inhibition of division at 100 μg ml−1.4 Dextran sulphate at molecular weights of 5 × 103 and 5 × 105 concentration‐dependently inhibited division between 0.1–100 μg ml−1. Dextran without sulphation did not exhibit inhibition of division at 100 μg ml−1.5 The magnitude of inhibition of proliferation did not reach 100% for any compounds examined at concentrations up to 100 μg ml−1 during incubations for 5 and 14 days. IC50 values for inhibition of proliferation ranged between 1–5 μg ml−1.6 These findings suggest that heparin and related glycosaminoglycans inhibit bovine airway smooth muscle cell division.