An Overview of the Protective Effects of Chitosan and Acetylated Chitosan Oligosaccharides against Neuronal Disorders.
Chitin is the second most abundant biopolymer on Earth and is mainly comprised of a marine invertebrate, consisting of repeating β-1,4 linked N-acetylated glucosamine units, whereas its N-deacetylated product, chitosan, has broad medical applications. Interestingly, chitosan oligosaccharides have therapeutic effects on different types of neuronal disorders, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and nerve crush injury. A common link among neuronal disorders is observed at a sub-cellular level, such as atypical protein assemblies and induced neuronal death. Chronic activation of innate immune responses that lead to neuronal injury is also common in these diseases. Thus, the common mechanisms of neuronal disorders might explain the general therapeutic effects of chitosan oligosaccharides and their derivatives in these diseases. This review provides an update on the pathogenesis and therapy for neuronal disorders and will be mainly focused on the recent progress made towards the neuroprotective properties of chitosan and acetylated chitosan oligosaccharides. Their structural features and the underlying molecular mechanisms will also be discussed.
Institute of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China. haocui2010@hotmail.com.
Cui
C
Hao
Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China. 18661801189@163.com.
Wei
W
Wang
Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China. wwwakin@ouc.edu.cn.
Shuyao
S
Wang
Institute of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China. shuyaowang224@126.com.
Lijuan
L
Zhang
Institute of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, China. haocui2010@hotmail.com.
Yunliang
Y
Guo
D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D048271:Chitosan / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D009844:Oligosaccharides; D020011:Protective Agents; D048271:Chitosan
acetylated chitosan oligosaccharides; chitosan; molecular mechanism; neuronal disorder; neuroprotection