Urinary acidic glycosaminoglycans in Werner's syndrome

Summary The composition of urinary acidic glycosaminoglycans (AGAG) in 4 patients with Werner's syndrome was determined by an enzymatic assay system using chondroitinases and hyaluronidase. In Werner's syndrome, the amount of hyaluronic acid and heparan sulfates in the total AGAG increases. A compositional change in the chondroitin sulfate isomers occurs. The change of urinary AGAG in Werner's syndrome appears to reflect age-related changes.The study was supported, in part, by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan, the Life Science of the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research and the Adult Disease Clinic Memorial Foundation, Tokyo. Thanks are due to Dr Y. Yamada and Dr R. Abe for collecting specimens, and Miss R. Abe and Miss R. Yamaguchi for technical assistance.