title: Sulfation of Glycosaminoglycans and Its Implications in Human Health and Disorders.
abstract: Sulfation is a dynamic and complex posttranslational modification process. It can occur at various positions within the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) backbone and modulates extracellular signals such as cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions; different sulfation patterns have been identified for the same organs and cells during their development. Because of their high specificity in relation to function, GAG sulfation patterns are referred to as the sulfation code. This review explores the role of GAG sulfation in different biological processes at the cell, tissue, and organism levels. We address the connection between the sulfation patterns of GAGs and several physiological processes and discuss the misregulation of GAG sulfation and its involvement in several genetic and metabolic disorders. Finally, we present the therapeutic potential of GAGs and their synthetic mimics in the biomedical field.
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group: Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho and Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; email: diana.costa@dep.uminho.pt , rgreis@dep.uminho.pt , pashkuleva@dep.uminho.pt.|Life and Health Sciences Research Institute/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Soares da Costa
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group: Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho and Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; email: diana.costa@dep.uminho.pt , rgreis@dep.uminho.pt , pashkuleva@dep.uminho.pt.|Life and Health Sciences Research Institute/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group: Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho and Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal; email: diana.costa@dep.uminho.pt , rgreis@dep.uminho.pt , pashkuleva@dep.uminho.pt.|Life and Health Sciences Research Institute/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pashkuleva
mesh_terms: D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism*; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000378:metabolism*; D003871:Dermatan Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D003871:Dermatan Sulfate; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006497:Heparan Sulfate; C013786:A73025
keywords: biomaterials; chondroitin sulfate; dermatan sulfate; heparan sulfate; heparin; keratan sulfate