Metabolism and biochemical/physiological roles of chondroitin sulfates: analysis of endogenous and supplemental chondroitin sulfates in blood circulation

Abstract

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a linear heteropolysaccharide consisting of repeating disaccharide units of glucuronic acid and galactosamine, which is commonly sulfated at C-4 and/or C-6 of galactosamine. The administration of CS as a supplement or a drug for the treatment of osteoarthrosis, the prevention of subsequent coronary events, treatment of psoriasis and ophthalmic diseases has been suggested. Much debate on the metabolism of CS and therefore the effectiveness of these treatments, especially after oral administration, has arisen due to the macromolecular nature of CS. Difficulties in analysing CS in blood due to the low endogenous concentrations and the covalent and anionic complexes with proteins have hampered the resolution of these issues. In this review, the information on the pharmacokinetics of CS obtained from studies in experimental animals and in humans is presented. Emphasis has been given to the analytical methods used for the determination of glycosaminoglycans, intact CS and CS-derived disaccharides in blood serum and plasma.

Contribution of Chondroitin Sulfate A to the Binding of Complement Proteins to Activated Platelets

“…The sulfation pattern, deacetylation, and epimerization of the structure create diversity among the CS family and are critical for the specific activity of its individual members [4]. In mammals, the galactosamine unit is most often monosulfated at position C-4 (as in the case of CS-A) or C-6 (as in CS-C) [5]. In addition to monosulfated CS-A and CS-C, other forms of CS have been described, such as CS-D and CS-E, which both are disulfated [5].…”

“…In mammals, the galactosamine unit is most often monosulfated at position C-4 (as in the case of CS-A) or C-6 (as in CS-C) [5]. In addition to monosulfated CS-A and CS-C, other forms of CS have been described, such as CS-D and CS-E, which both are disulfated [5]. Dermatan sulfate, formerly known as CS-B, is often described together with CS but differs more radically from the other forms of CS, mainly because of its frequent epimerization of the glucoronic acid to iduronic acid [6].…”

“…Dermatan sulfate, formerly known as CS-B, is often described together with CS but differs more radically from the other forms of CS, mainly because of its frequent epimerization of the glucoronic acid to iduronic acid [6]. CS is the most abundant GAG in human plasma (70–80% of all GAGs), with CS-A representing half of this fraction and the remainder being non-sulfated [5].…”

Glycosaminoglycans in Human and Bovine Serum: Detection of Twenty-Four Heparan Sulfate and Chondroitin Sulfate Motifs Including a Novel Sialic Acid-Modified Chondroitin Sulfate Linkage Hexasaccharide

“…16 CS represents the major GAG in blood circulation. Other serum GAGs include HS, keratan sulfate, and hyaluronan.…”

“…GAG disaccharides have been separated based on charge, position of sulfate groups and uronic acid composition by anion exchange HPLC, reverse phase HPLC, capillary electrophoresis, and fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis (FACE). [21][22][23][24] Thus far, twenty-three HS disaccharides 3 and twenty-five CS disaccharides, 16 derived from a variety of biological sources, have been described. GAG disaccharide composition analysis can quantify GAGs and provide structural information.…”