title: Effect of nonanimal high- and low-molecular-mass chondroitin sulfates produced by a biotechnological process in an animal model of polyarthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We planned to report on the effect of two nonanimal chondroitin sulfates (CSs) with different molecular masses produced using an innovative biotechnological process in an adjuvant arthritis animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiments included healthy animals, untreated arthritic animals and arthritic animals having been administered 900 mg/kg of either of the two CS samples daily. Arthritic score, γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity in hind paw joint tissue homogenates, plasmatic C-reactive protein (CRP) and pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 were assayed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-molecular-mass (LMM) CS significantly reduced the arthritic score by up to about 30% from 14 to 28 days. In contrast, no significant differences were observed for high-molecular-mass (HMM) CS, even if a trend in its capacity to decrease the arthritic score by up to about 11% was observed. Additionally, LMM CS was able to significantly decrease GGT activity by approximately 31% and plasmatic CRP levels by about 9%. Both nonanimal CS samples were effective in reducing plasmatic levels of proinflammatory cytokines. A greater efficacy was also observed for LMM CS compared with a pharmaceutical-grade CS of extractive origin, while the efficacy of the HMM CS sample was found to be rather similar. The greater effect of LMM CS in reducing arthritic parameters may be related to its lower molecular mass with respect to HMM CS and natural CS.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bauerova
authors.forename: Silvester
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ponist
authors.forename: Viera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kuncirova
authors.forename: Frantisek
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Drafi
authors.forename: Danica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mihalova
authors.forename: Ema
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paulovicova
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Volpi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013640:Tarsal Joints / Q000473:pathology; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase