硫酸多糖与动脉粥样硬化

The relationship between sulfated polysaccharides and atherosclerosis

动脉粥样硬化（ＡＳ）的发生、发展是一个十分复杂的病理过程。它涉及到血管内皮细胞（ＥＣ）、平滑肌细胞（ＳＭＣ）、炎性细胞（如单核细胞、巨噬细胞等）、淋巴细胞、血小板等多种细胞及相关细胞因子。许多研究发现硫酸多糖与ＡＳ存在密切的关系。大多报道表明硫酸多糖可保护ＥＣ免受各种刺激因子的损伤作用，从而阻断ＡＳ形成的起始环节；另外，硫酸多糖也可通过抑制ＶＳＭＣ增殖、迁移；减少炎性细胞、淋巴细胞、血小板等粘附、聚集到血管内膜；抑制补体的激活等多种途径来达到抗ＡＳ目的。但也有文献报道部分硫酸多糖反而促进ＡＳ形成。而且硫酸多糖的抗ＡＳ活性与其分子结构有关，所以ＡＳ与硫酸多糖的关系是一直存在争议的问题。

The atherogensis was involved in a complex pathological process. Injury to endothelial cells of blood vessels was confirmed to be the initial stage of this process. Migration to subendothelial layer and accumulation and proliferation of smooth muscle cells were attributed to various cytokines and adhesive molecules secreted by activated endothelial cells, subsequently resulting in aggregation of lymphocytes, platelets, monocytes and macrophages in the intima of artery. These cellular components ultimatedly led to the formation of a mature atherosclerotic plaque. It's quite acknowledged that a better understanding of the atherogenic events might promise us the development of new chemical entities of anti-atherosclerotic therapies. A large body of evidence has demonstrated that sulfated polysaccharides played a critical role in the development of atheroscle- rosis. The underlying mechanisms of the antiatherosclerotic activity of sulfated polysaccharides were reported to contribute to protecting against endothelial cells injury, inhibiting migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and reducing the adhesion of inflammatory Cells, platelets and lymphocytes. And also, the prevention of complement activation by sulfated polysaccharides could not be excluded. On the other hand, the promoting effects of sulfated polysaccharides atherosclerosis was also reported. It's therefore concluded that the relationships between atherioscierosis and sulfated polysaccharides remained to be further elucidated.