Proteoglycan synthesis is not influenced by zinc in proliferating bovine aortic endothelial cells in culture

Zinc promotes the proliferation of bovine aortic endothelial cells depending on endogenous fibroblast growth factor-2 whose activity is modulated by proteoglycans. In this study, we investigated the effects of zinc on the synthesis of proteoglycans in proliferating cells. It was demonstrated that zinc neither influenced the core protein synthesis nor the glycosaminoglycan chain formation during the synthesis of proteoglycan molecules, suggesting that zinc stimulation of endothelial cell proliferation is independent of proteoglycan synthesis.