Dynamic Structure of Proteoglycans/Glycosaminoglycans in the Lungs of Mice with Chronic Granulomatous Inflammation

Structure of proteoglycans in the lungs and total glycosaminoglycan content in blood serum were studied on mouse model of BCG-induced granulomatous inflammation in mice (without destructive processes in the lung parenchyma and granulomas). The maximum level of sulfated glycosaminoglycans in the lungs was detected on postinfection day 30 and was related to their involvement in initiation granulomogenesis and development of granulomas. The maximum level of total glycosaminoglycans in mouse serum on postinfection day 90 coincided with minimum level of sulfated glycosaminoglycans in the lungs. This blood/lungs ratio of glycosaminoglycans can be related to the prevalence of low-molecular-weight hyaluronan fragments promoting inflammation and fibrosis in the lungs observed at the end of the experiment (postinfection day 180).