Pharmacological properties of fucose. Applications in age-related modifications of connective tissues.
Fucose is the only component of glycoconjugates of vertebrates in the L-configuration. It exhibits a number of unique and interesting biological properties reviewed briefly in this article. Its constant end-standing position on glycan chains predisposes fucose to play a key role in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, mediated by several receptors such as those recognising the Lewis-type blood group substances, fucose-recognising lectines and the mannose-fucose receptors. Some of the as yet unstudied or less well understood properties of L-fucose were explored in the present study, as its non-enzymatic interaction with amine-groups on macromolecules, its cellular uptake attributed to specific transport mechanisms and its effect on fibroblast cell cultures. We could document the stimulation of cell-proliferation and the inhibition of MMP-expression and activation, both for MMP-2 and MMP-9. These and the other shortly reviewed properties of L-fucose may play an important role in its biological applications and actions.
Péterszegi
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Laboratoire Universitaire de Recherche en Ophtalmologie, Faculté de Médecine Broussais-Hôtel Dieu, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris 6), 1, place du Parvis-Notre-Dame, 75181 Paris cedex 4, France.
Fodil-Bourahla
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Robert
A M
AM
Robert
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D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005643:Fucose / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D005643:Fucose; D005947:Glucose