title: Anti-inflammatory activity of chondroitin sulfate.
abstract: Osteoarthritis is primarily characterized by areas of destruction of articular cartilage and by synovitis. Articular damage and synovitis are secondary to local increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha), enzymes with proteolytic activity (matrix metalloproteinases), and enzymes with pro-inflammatory activity (cyclooxygenase-2 and nitric oxide synthase-2). Enhanced expression of these proteins in chondrocytes and in synovial membrane appears associated to the activation and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). Chondroitin sulfate (CS) prevents joint space narrowing and reduces joint swelling and effusion. To produce these effects, CS elicits an anti-inflammatory effect at the chondral and synovial levels. CS and its disaccharides reduce NF-kappaB nuclear translocation, probably by diminishing extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2, p38mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation. This review discusses the evidence supporting that CS pleiotropic effects in chondrocytes and synoviocytes are primarily due to a common mechanism, e.g., the inhibition of NF-kappaB nuclear translocation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iovu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dumais
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: du Souich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013585:Synovitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007375:Interleukin-1; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases