title: Glycosaminoglycan chondroprotection: pharmacological vistas.
abstract: Chondroprotection is a somewhat new field in the therapy of osteoarthritis, which is designed to improve cartilage repair as well as enhance joint remodeling. It clearly results from both laboratory models as well as from studies on human osteoarthritis, that cartilage contains biological resources to meet the repair of degenerative injuries and inflammation. Interestingly, sulfated glycosaminoglycans from matrix inhibit leukocyte protease and complement-mediated immunological reactions. By fractioning cartilage glycosaminoglycans from Selachus (Matrix), evidence has been obtained that a proper chondroitinsulfate sequence, which is able to inhibit elastase, may be released from cartilage proteoglycans by cleavage of the xyl-ser O-glycosidic bond. Since a number of sulfated glycosaminoglycans have a regulatory function in an array of tissues, attention is drawn to possible regulatory properties of selected sequences of matrix chondroitinsulfate, as far as chondroprotection is concerned.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pàroli
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002356:Cartilage / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; C013786:A73025; C010034:Arteparon; D006493:Heparin; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase