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Anti-inflammatory activity of chondroitin sulphate: new functions from an old natural macromolecule

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Abstract

Chondroitin sulphate (CS) is recommended by the European League Against Rheumatism as a symptomatic slow-acting drug for the treatment of osteoarthritis on the basis of numerous clinical trials and meta-analyses. Furthermore, recent clinical trials have also demonstrated the possible structure-modifying effects of CS. This review focuses on recent experimental results and data available in the scientific literature regarding the anti-inflammatory properties of CS with a view to understanding the molecular basis responsible for its activity. Several animal studies have demonstrated that orally administered CS significantly inhibited hind paw oedema, synovitis and destruction of the articular cartilage in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, CS proved to have a beneficial effect in slowing down the development of adjuvant arthritis and in reducing disease markers, findings which support its beneficial activity in humans as a chondroprotective drug. Finally, several in vitro studies have focused on the hypothesis that CS may reduce inflammatory processes by acting on the nuclear translocation of NF-κB, which is closely associated with the blood biomarkers of inflammation, primarily IL-1, IL-6 and C-reactive protein.

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Abbreviations

BDNF:

Brain-derived growth factor

CIA:

Collagen-induced arthritis

CRP:

C-reactive protein

CS:

Chondroitin sulphate

EULAR:

European League Against Rheumatism

FGF:

Fibroblast growth factor

GAGs:

Glycosaminoglycans

GalNAc:

N-acetyl-d-galactosamine

GDNF:

Glial-derived growth factor

GlcA:

d-Glucuronic acid

HGF–FS:

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor

KGF:

Keratinocyte growth factor

IFN-γ:

Interferon-γ

IL:

Interleukin

IP-10:

γ-Interferon inducible protein-10

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharides

MAPK(s):

Mitogen-activated protein kinases

MCP-1:

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1

MK:

Midkine

MIP-1α:

Macrophage inflammatory peptides-1α

OA:

Osteoarthritis

PDGF:

Platelet-derived growth factor

PF4:

Platelet factor 4

PRR(s):

Pattern recognition receptor(s)

PTN/HB-GAM:

Pleiotrophin

RA:

Rheumatoid arthritis

SDS-1β:

Stromal cell-derived factor-1β

SLC:

Secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine

SYSADOA:

Symptomatic slow-acting drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis

TNF-α:

Tumour necrosis factor-α

TLR(s):

Toll-like receptor(s)

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial growth factor

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  1. Department of Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/D, 41100, Modena, Italy

    Nicola Volpi

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  1. Nicola Volpi
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Volpi, N. Anti-inflammatory activity of chondroitin sulphate: new functions from an old natural macromolecule. Inflammopharmacol 19, 299–306 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-011-0098-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-011-0098-0

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