Photobiomodulation inhibits the expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans after spinal cord injury via the Sox9 pathway

Both glial cells and glia scar greatly affect the development of spinal cord injury and have become hot spots in research on spinal cord injury treatment.The cellular deposition of dense extracellular matrix proteins such as chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans inside and around the glial scar is known to affect axonal growth and be a major obstacle to autogenous repair.These proteins are thus candidate targets for spinal cord injury therapy.Our previous studies demonstrated that 810 nm photo biomodulation inhibited the formation of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans after spinal cord injury and greatly improved motor function in model animals.However,the specific mechanism and potential targets involved remain to be clarified.In this study,to investigate the therapeutic effect of photo biomodulation,we established a mouse model of spinal cord injury by T9 clamping and irradiated the injury site at a power density of 50 mW/cm~2 for 50 minutes once a day for 7 consecutive days.We found that photobiomodulation greatly restored motor function in mice and down regulated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan expression in the injured spinal cord.Bioinformatics analysis revealed that photobiomodulation inhibited the expression of proteoglycan-related genes induced by spinal cord injury,and versican,a type of proteoglycan,was one of the most markedly changed molecules.Immunofluorescence staining showed that after spinal cord injury,versican was present in astrocytes in spinal cord tissue.The expression of versican in primary astrocytes cultured in vitro increased after inflammation induction,whereas photobiomodulation inhibited the expression of ve rsican.Furthermore,we found that the increased levels of p-Smad3,p-P38 and p-Erk in inflammatory astrocytes were reduced after photobiomodulation treatment and after delivery of inhibitors including FR 180204,(E)-SIS3,and SB 202190.This suggests that Sma d 3/Sox9 and MAP K/Sox9 pathways may be involved in the effects of photobiomodulation.In summary,our findings show that photobiomodulation modulates the expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans,and versican is one of the key target molecules of photo biomodulation.MAPK/Sox9 and Smad3/Sox9 pathways may play a role in the effects of photo biomodulation on chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan accumulation after spinal cord injury.

Physicochemical, structural characterization, and antioxidant activities of chondroitin sulfate from Oreochromis niloticus bones

In this study,chondroitin sulfate was extracted from Oreochromis niloticus bones(OCS)and isolated to three fractions(OCS-1,OCS-2,and OCS-3).The physicochemical properties and structure characterization including monosaccharide,disaccharide compositions,molecular weight(Mw)of OCS were determined by HPAEC,HPLC-SAX,HPGPC,FT-IR spectra,and 1D/2D NMR.Moreover,their thermal properties,crystalline structure,and microstructure were also analyzed.Results showed that their Mw were between 10 kDa and 50 kDa.CS-6 was the predominant disaccharide unit in four OCS,and the CS-4/CS-6 ratios were close to CS from shark cartilage.Besides,the results of antioxidant activity showed that different fractions of OCS had a distinct DPPH radical,hydroxyl radical,and ABTS+radical scavenging activity.OCS-1 has the highest scavenging activities in DPPH and hydroxyl radical compared with other fractions,which showed a higher medicinal value.Those findings may lay some theoretical basis for the potential application development of OCS.

Optimization of the Formulation Process of Glucosamine Chondroitin Sulfate Tablets

[Objectives]This study was conducted to optimize the Formulation Process of glucosamine chondroitin sulfate tablets. [Methods] The orthogonal design with three levels was carried out with microcrystalline cellulose, calcium hydrophosphate and cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone as three factors to optimize the preparation process. [Results] When microcrystalline cellulose 200 mg/tablet, calcium hydrophosphate 150 mg/tablet, and cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone 80 mg/tablet were added, the angle of repose could meet the requirements of tablet pressing, and the dissolution could reach more than 95% in 30 min. The results of the orthogonal test showed that the dissolution effect of self-made tablets was faster than that of commercial products. [Conclusions] The glucosamine hydrochloride chondroitin sulfate tablets prepared by this prescription have better quality.

Chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine combination in patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis:A long-term observational study in Russia

BACKGROUND Oral treatment of glucosamine(GA) combined with chondroitin sulfate(CS) was reportedly effective for pain relief and function improvement in osteoarthritis patients with moderate to severe knee pain in clinical trials. While the effectiveness of GA and CS on both clinical and radiological findings has been demonstrated, only a few high-quality trials exist. Therefore, controversy regarding their effectiveness in real-world clinical practice remains.AIM To investigate the impact of GA + CS on clinical outcomes of patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis in routine clinical practice.METHODS A multicenter prospective observational cohort study included 1102 patients of both genders with knee or hip osteoarthritis(Kellgren & Lawrence grades Ⅰ-Ⅲ) in 51 clinical centers in the Russian Federation from November 20, 2017, to March 20,2020, who had started to receive oral capsules of glucosamine hydrochloride 500 mg and CS 400mg according to the approved patient information leaflet starting from 3 capsules daily for 3 wk,followed by a reduced dosage of 2 capsules daily before study inclusion(minimal recommended treatment duration is 3-6 mo). Changes in subscale scores [Pain, Symptoms, Function, and Quality of Life(QOL)] of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score(KOOS)/Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score(HOOS) questionnaires during the observational period(up to 54-64wk with a total of 4 visits). Patients’ treatment satisfaction, data on the combined oral use of glucosamine hydrochloride and CS, concomitant use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), and adverse events(AEs) were also evaluated.RESULTS A total of 1102 patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis were included in the study. The mean patient age was 60.4 years, most patients were women(87.8%), and their average body mass index was 29.49 kg/m2. All subscale scores(Pain, Symptoms, Function, and QOL) of the KOOS and HOOS demonstrated clinically and statistically significant improvements. In patients with knee osteoarthritis, the mean score increases from baseline to the end of Week 64 were 22.87, 20.78,16.60, and 24.87 on Pain, Symptoms, Physical Function(KOOS-PS), and QOL subscales(P < 0.001for all), respectively. In patients with hip osteoarthritis, the mean score increases were 22.81, 19.93,18.77, and 22.71 on Pain, Symptoms, Physical Function(HOOS-PS), and QOL subscales(P < 0.001for all), respectively. The number of patients using any NSAIDs decreased from 43.1% to 13.5%(P < 0.001) at the end of the observation period. Treatment-related AEs occurred in 2.8% of the patients and mainly included gastrointestinal disorders [25 AEs in 24(2.2%) patients]. Most patients(78.1%) were satisfied with the treatment.CONCLUSION Long-term oral GA + CS was associated with decreased pain, reduced concomitant NSAID therapy, improved joint function and QOL in patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis in routine clinical practice.

Melatonin combined with chondroitin sulfate ABC promotes nerve regeneration after root-avulsion brachial plexus injury

After nerve-root avulsion injury of the brachial plexus, oxidative damage, inflammatory reaction, and glial scar formation can affect nerve regeneration and functional recovery. Melatonin(MT) has been shown to have good anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. Chondroitin sulfate ABC(ChABC) has been shown to metabolize chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and can reduce colloidal scar formation. However, the effect of any of these drugs alone in the recovery of nerve function after injury is not completely satisfactory. Therefore, this experiment aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of combined application of melatonin and chondroitin sulfate ABC on nerve regeneration and functional recovery after nerve-root avulsion of the brachial plexus. Fifty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and their C5–7 nerve roots were avulsed. Then, the C6 nerve roots were replanted to construct the brachial plexus nerve-root avulsion model. After successful modeling, the injured rats were randomly divided into four groups. The first group(injury) did not receive any drug treatment, but was treated with a pure gel-sponge carrier nerve-root implantation and an ethanol-saline solution via intraperitoneal(i.p.) injection. The second group(melatonin) was treated with melatonin via i.p. injection. The third group(chondroitin sulfate ABC) was treated with chondroitin sulfate ABC through local administration. The fourth group(melatonin + chondroitin sulfate ABC) was treated with melatonin through i.p. injection and chondroitin sulfate ABC through local administration. The upper limb Terzis grooming test was used 2–6 weeks after injury to evaluate motor function. Inflammation and oxidative damage within 24 hours of injury were evaluated by spectrophotometry. Immunofluorescence and neuroelectrophysiology were used to evaluate glial scar, neuronal protection, and nerve regeneration. The results showed that the Terzis grooming-test scores of the three groups that received treatment were better than those of the injury only group. Additionally, these three groups showed lower levels of C5–7 intramedullary peroxidase and malondialdehyde. Further, glial scar tissue in the C6 spinal segment was smaller and the number of motor neurons was greater. The endplate area of the biceps muscle was larger and the structure was clear. The latency of the compound potential of the myocutaneous nerve-biceps muscle was shorter. All these indexes were even greater in the melatonin + chondroitin sulfate ABC group than in the melatonin only or chondroitin sulfate ABC only groups. Thus, the results showed that melatonin combined with chondroitin sulfate ABC can promote nerve regeneration after nerve-root avulsion injury of the brachial plexus, which may be achieved by reducing oxidative damage and inflammatory reaction in the injury area and inhibiting glial scar formation.

Effect of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans on neuronal cell adhesion, spreading and neurite growth in culture

As one major component of extracellular matrix （ECM） in the central nervous system, chondroitin sul- fate proteoglycans （CSPGs） have long been known as inhibitors enriched in the glial scar that prevent axon regeneration after injury. Although many studies have shown that CSPGs inhibited neurite out- growth in vitro using different types of neurons, the mechanism by which CSPGs inhibit axonal growth remains poorly understood. Using cerebellar granule neuron （CGN） culture, in this study, we evaluated the effects of different concentrations of both immobilized and soluble CSPGs on neuronal growth, in- cluding cell adhesion, spreading and neurite growth. Neurite length decreased while CSPGs concentration arised, meanwhile, a decrease in cell density accompanied by an increase in cell aggregates formation was observed. Soluble CSPGs also showed an inhibition on neurite outgrowth, but it required a higher concen- tration to induce cell aggregates formation than coated CSPGs. We also found that growth cone size was significantly reduced on CSPGs and neuronal cell spreading was restrained by CSPGs, attributing to an inhibition on lamellipodial extension. The effect of CSPGs on neuron adhesion was further evidenced by interference reflection microscopy （IRM） which directly demonstrated that both CGNs and cerebral cortical neurons were more loosely adherent to a CSPG substrate. These data demonstrate that CSPGs have an effect on cell adhesion and spreading in addition to neurite outgrowth.

M1-type microglia can induce astrocytes to deposit chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan after spinal cord injury

After spinal cord injury(SCI),astrocytes gradually migrate to and surround the lesion,depositing chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-rich extracellular matrix and forming astrocytic scar,which limits the spread of inflammation but hinders axon regeneration.Meanwhile,microglia gradually accumulate at the lesion border to form microglial scar and can polarize to generate a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype or an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype.However,the effect of microglia polarization on astrocytes is unclear.Here,we found that both microglia(CX3 CR1^(+))and astrocytes(GFAP^(+))gathered at the lesion border at 14 days post-injury(dpi).The microglia accumulated along the inner border of and in direct contact with the astrocytes.M1-type microglia(i NOS^(+)CX3 CR1^(+))were primarily observed at 3 and 7 dpi,while M2-type microglia(Arg1^(+)CX3 CR1^(+))were present at larger numbers at 7 and 14 dpi.Transforming growth factor-β1(TGFβ1)was highly expressed in M1 microglia in vitro,consistent with strong expression of TGFβ1 by microglia in vivo at 3 and 7 dpi,when they primarily exhibited an M1 phenotype.Furthermore,conditioned media from M1-type microglia induced astrocytes to secrete chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan in vitro.This effect was eliminated by knocking down sex-determining region Y-box 9(SOX9)in astrocytes and could not be reversed by treatment with TGFβ1.Taken together,our results suggest that microglia undergo M1 polarization and express high levels of TGFβ1 at 3 and 7 dpi,and that M1-type microglia induce astrocytes to deposit chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan via the TGFβ1/SOX9 pathway.The study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Anhui Medical University,China(approval No.LLSC20160052)on March 1,2016.

Effects of chondroitin sulfate on alteration of actin cytoskeleton in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: In experimental acute pancreatitis, a large amount of reactive oxygen species are produced, and in turn cytoskeletal changes may be induced in pancreatic tissue. These changes contribute to an imbalance of digestive enzyme segregation, transport, exocytosis and activation, resulting in cell injury. In this study, we assessed the effects of chondroitin sulfate (CS) on attenuation of oxidative damage and protection of F-actin in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). METHODS: Ninety male Wistar rats were divided randomly into three groups. Group A was infused with 5% sodium taurocholate; group B was treated with CS; and group C served as control. Rats from the three groups were killed at 1, 3 or 8 hours. The levels were measured of malonyl dialdehyde (MDA), total superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione synthetase (GSH), serum amylase (SAM) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). F-actin immunostained with rhodamine-phalloidin was analyzed using a confocal laser scanning system and the content of F-actin protein was determined. RESULTS: The levels of SAM increased in groups A and B, whereas the levels of GSH, SOD and ATP in group A decreased markedly during pancreatitis, and MDA increased significantly. The levels of GSH, SOD and ATP in group B were higher than those in group A, but the level of MDA was lower than in group A. At the same time, ANP resulted in early disruption of the cytoskeleton with dramatic changes and a loss of F-actin. Administration of CS moderated the damage to the actin cytoskeleton. CONCLUSIONS: Retrograde infusion of sodium taurocholate via the pancreatic duct may produce pancreatic necrosis and a marked increase in serum amylase activity, induce a severe depletion of ATP level, prime lipid peroxidation, and damage F-actin. Treatment with CS can ameliorate pancreatic cell conditions, limit cell membrane peroxidation, protect F-actin, and attenuate pancreatitis.

Chondroitin sulfate-mediated albumin corona nanoparticles for the treatment of breast cancer

Chondroitin sulfate-mediated albumin corona nanoparticles were readily prepared without any chemical reaction,and their active tumor targeting and therapeutic effects were examined.Negatively charged chondroitin sulfate(CS)and positively charged doxorubicin(DOX)self-assembled into nanoparticles(CS-DOX-NPs)via electrostatic interactions.Bovine serum albumin(BSA)was then adsorbed on the surface of CS-DOX-NPs to form albumin corona nanoparticles(BC-DOX-NPs)protected from endogenous proteins.Due to the dual effect of BSA and CS,BC-DOX-NPs interacted with the gp60,SPARC and CD44 receptors on tumor cells,facilitating their rapid and efficient transcytosis and improving their accumulation and uptake within tumor tissues.The simultaneous presence of BSA and CS also allowed BC-DOX-NPs to target CD44 efficiently,leading to greater cellular uptake and cytotoxicity against 4 T1 cells than CS-DOX-NPs or free DOX.Intravenous injection of BCDOX-NPs into orthotopic 4 T1 tumor-bearing mice led to greater drug accumulation at the tumor site than with CS-DOX-NPs or free DOX,resulting in significant inhibition of tumor growth and lower exposure of major organs to the drug.

Preparation and Characterization of PD LIA/Chondroitin Sulfate/Chitosan Seaffold for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

A novel bioactive and bioresorbable PDLLA/chondroitin sulfate/chitosan scaffold was prepared via layer-by-layer（LBL） electrostatic-self-assembly （ESA） and the thermally induced phase separation （TIPS） technique. Chondroitin sulfate and chitosan were alternately deposited on the activated PDLLA substrate. The deposition process was monitored by UV-Vis absorbance spectroscopy. After frozen and lyophilized, the scaffold was characterized by attenuated total reflection （ATR）-FT-IR, XPS, SEM and AFM. The results showed that the scaffold was modified uniformly with a dense inner layer with few detectable pores and a porous sponge outer layer with the pore size about 5 μm, there was an obvious across section and the average thickness of each layer was about 9.4 nm.

Role of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan signaling in regulating neuroinflammation following spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury （SCI） elicits a robust inflammatory response that is a hallmark of the secondary injury mechanisms. Neuroinflammation is orchestrated initially by the response of resident astrocytes and microglia to injury, which subsequently facilitates the recruitment of peripheral immune cells into the SCI lesion （Orr and Gensel, 2018）. This inflammatory response contributes to cell death and tissue degeneration through the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, free radicals and proteolytic enzymes. However, neuroinflammatory cells also play beneficial regulatory role in repair mechanisms after SCI by adopting a reparative and wound healing phenotype （Orr and Gensel, 2018; Tran et al., 2018）. Hence, understanding the underlying mechanisms by which immune cells are reg- ulated within the microenvironment of injury would aid in harnessing the reparative potential of inflammation following SCI.

Methylprednisolone Inhibits the Expression of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein and Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans in Reactivated Astrocytes

创伤后的神经胶质增生导致硫酸软骨素蛋白聚糖(CSPG)的显著表达,从而抑制轴突生长和再生。甲基强地松龙(MP),一种合成的糖皮质激素,在急性脊髓损伤(SCI)的治疗中有神经保护作用和抗炎效应。但是,MP对于CSPG在活性胶质细胞中的表达的作用尚不清楚。本文用a-氨基-3-羟基-5-甲基-4-异恶唑丙酸酯(AM-PA)诱导星形胶质细胞再活化,用环噻嗪模拟SCI的兴奋性中毒刺激。AMPA治疗后,星形胶质细胞再活化的标志物-胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)、CSPG神经聚糖和磷酸盐的表达都显著上调。AMPA治疗星形胶质细胞的条件培养液强烈抑制大鼠背根神经节中神经元的轴突生长,但这种作用能被MP的预处理所逆转。此外,MP下调成年SCI大鼠中GFAP和CSPG的表达,对抗RU486的糖皮质激素受体(GR)和GR si RNA能逆转MP对GFAP和神经聚糖表达的抑制作用。这些结果提示,MP能在兴奋性中毒损伤后通过GR介导的星形胶质细胞再活化下调和GSPG表达抑制来改善神经修复,促进轴突生长。

Preparation and Charactcrization of a Novel PDLLA/Chondroitin Sulfate/Chitosan Asymmetry Film

A novel bioactive and bioresorbable asymmetry film was prepared. The PDLLA membrane was activated by 1, 6-hexanediamine to obtain a stable positive charge surface. Chondroitin sulfate and chitosan were then deposited on activated PDLLA membrane via layer-by-layer （LBL） electro-static assembly （ESA） technique. The deposition process was monitored by UV-Vis absorbance spectroscopy. The composite membrane was frozen lyophilized to form the asymmetry film and characterized by attenuated total reflectic （ATR）-FT-IR, XPS and SEM. The experimental results show that a stable 1, 6-hexanediamine layer on PDLLA substrate based on the aminolysis of the polyester and the layer thickness increase linearly first with the increase of the deposited layers, and then increases slowly due to the layer interpenetration. The test results of ATR-FT- IR and SEM show the asymmetry film is modified uniformly with a dense inner layer and a porous sponge outer tayer.

Partial Hydrolysis of the Fucosylated Chondroitin Sulfate from Sea Cucumber Isostichopus badionotus and Its Mechanism

The method for preparing low molecular weight fucosylated chondroitin sulfate from sea cucumber lsostichopus badionotus using partial acid hydrolysis was reported, and its hydrolysis mechanism was also investigated. The sea cucumber chondroitin sulfate FCS was hydrolyzed under different conditions （80℃3 h and 6 h）, then isolated and purified on a Bio-P-4 geltration to prepare low molecular weight fractions （LMWF-FCS）. The chemical compositions of LMWF-FCS showed the branched fucose （Fuc） was cleaved during acid hydrolysis process, whereas the mole ratio of acetyl-galactosamine （GalNAc） and glucuronic acid （GlcA） in the backbone remained the same, which indicated the backbone was a typical chondroitin sulfate structure. The disaccharide composition analysis of LMWF-FCS suggested that the sulfation patterns of GalNAc in the backbone chain changed and the substitution value was reduced. Furthermore, the 1D NMR analysis illustrated the branched-Fuc was cleaved during acid hydrolysis, but their substitution patterns were not influenced, which was distinct from the previous reports that the substitutions of branched-Fuc in FCS were easy to change. Simultaneously, the sulfation pattern of GalNAc in backbone chain changed obviously in the acid hydrolysis process. The anticoagulant activity in vitro illuminated the anticoagulant activity of the degradation products over time in the acid hydrolysis are gradually declined, but still kept good. Therefore, the LMWF-FCS prepared could be developed as a new anticoagulant and antithrombotic drug like low molecular weight heparin.

Optimization of Enzymatic Extraction of Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate From Bovine Nasal Bone

Taking bovine nasal bone as a raw material,the sodium chondroitin sulfate was extracted by enzymolysis-ion adsorption-alcohol precipitation method,and the enzymolysis process was optimized.After single factor experiments,the response surface analysis was performed by software Design-Expert 8.0,and the optimal enzymolysis conditions were as follows:the trypsin concentration of 0.8%,the pH value of 9.0,the enzymolysis temperature at 52℃,and the enzymolysis time of 2.0 h.With this combination of conditions,the concentration of sodium chondroitin sulfate extract reached 11.3 g/L,the bovine nasal bone yield was 35%,and the finished product content was 92.5%,which provided guidance for industrial production.

Hard Tissue-Forming Ability and Ultra-Micro Structure of Newly Developed Sponges as Scaffolds Made with Sodium Alginate Gel and Chondroitin Sulfate

To regenerate teeth and bones, a scaffold is essential. Hydroxyapatite has been used in many studies, but scaffolds made of hydrogel or sponge are also effective. The hardness of hydroxyapatite is a disadvantageous property for shaping. A sponge is suitable as a scaffold because the shape of the scaffold can be matched to the defect. Sodium alginate (AL) has excellent biocompatibility and a sponge can be made from this gel by lyophilization. The purpose of this study was to promote hard tissue formation with a sponge made of AL gel or AL gel and chondroitin sulfate (Chs). Sponges were made from AL gel, which were then used as a scaffold to investigate their effectiveness for the formation of hard tissue or bone. Hard tissue formation in the pores of these AL sponges was estimated in vitro and in vivo. In the sponge made from AL gel, the concentration of AL and the addition of Chs affected bone formation. Concentration of AL would affect the shape and size of the pores. ALP activity in the sponges was also enhanced by Chs. The amount of osteocalcin (OC) produced in the sponge by rat bone marrow cells increased depending on the AL and Chs concentrations in the gel. The level of OC amount in the sponges made from AL gel containing Chs was notable in vivo. Bone formation in the sponge in vivo was affected by the addition of Chs in AL gel. The quantity of OC and the bone formation in AL sponges in subcutaneous tissue in vivo suggested that AL sponges can be useful as a scaffold.

The relevance study of effective information between near infrared spectroscopy and chondroitin sulfate in ethanol precipitation process

Near infrared spectroscopy(NIRS)is based on molecular overtone and combination vibrations.It is difficult to assign specific features under complicated system.So it is necessary to find the relevance between NIRS and target compound.For this purpose,the chondroitin sulfate(CS)ethanol precipitation process was selected as the research model,and 90 samples of 5 different batches were collected and the content of CS was determined by modifed carbazole method.The relevance between NIRS and CS was studied throughout optical pathlength,pretreat ment methods and variables selection methods.In conclusion,the first derivative with Savitzky--Golay(SG)smoothing was selected as the best pretreatment,and the best spectral region was selected using interval partial least squares(iPLS)method under 1 mm optical cell.A multivariate cali-bration model was established using PLS algorithm for determining the content of CS,and the root mean square error of prediction(RMSEP)is 3.934gL-1.This method will have great potential in process analytical technology in the future.

Chondrocyte Production of Pro-Inflammatory Chemokine MCP-1 (CCL-2) and Prostaglandin E-2 Is Inhibited by Avocado/Soybean Unsaponifiables, Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate Combination

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, painful disease affecting articulating joints in man and animals. It is characterized by cartilage breakdown, bone remodeling, osteophyte formation and joint inflammation. Currently used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the management of OA are known to have deleterious side effects. To address the need for alternatives, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of a combination of avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU), glucosamine (GLU) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) by measuring chemokine MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, CCL2) and prostaglandin E-2 (PGE2) in stimulated chondrocytes. As the only cellular constituents of cartilage, chondrocytes are the source of pro-inflammatory mediators that play critical roles in the pathogenesis of OA. Chondrocytes were incubated: with: 1) control media, 2) [ASU + GLU + CS] combination, or 3) Phenylbutazone (PBZ) for 24 hours. Cells were next stimulated with IL-1β or LPS for another 24 hrs. MCP-1 and PGE2 from supernatants were quantitated by immunoassay. Another set of chondrocytes seeded in chamber slides were stimulated with IL-1β for 1 hour and then immunostained for NF-κB. Chondrocytes stimulated with IL-1β or LPS significantly increased MCP-1 and PGE2 production which were significantly reduced after treatment with [ASU + GLU + CS]. In contrast, PBZ significantly reduced PGE2 but not MCP-1 production. IL-1β stimulation induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB, which was inhibited by pre-treatment with either [ASU + GLU + CS] or PBZ. The present study provides evidence that the production of MCP-1 by chondrocytes can be inhibited by the combination of [ASU + GLU + CS] but not by PBZ. In contrast, PGE2 production was inhibited by either treatment suggesting that the production of MCP-1 and PGE2 could be independently regulated. The finding of distinct effects of [ASU + GLU + CS] on MCP-1 and PGE2 synthesis supports a scientific rationale for a multimodal treatment approach in the management of OA.

Semi-synthetic chondroitin sulfate CS-semi5 upregulates miR-122-5p,conferring a therapeutic effect on osteoarthritis via the p38/MMP13 pathway

Osteoarthritis(OA)is an aging-associated disease characterized by joint stiffness pain and destroyed articular cartilage.Traditional treatments for OA are limited to alleviating various OA symptoms.There is a lack of drugs available in clinical practice that can truly repair cartilage damage.Here,we developed the chondroitin sulfate analog CS-semi5,semi-synthesized from chondroitin sulfate A.In vivo,CS-semi5 alleviated inflammation,provided analgesic effects,and protected cartilage in the modified Hulth OA rat model and papain-induced OA rat model.A bioinformatics analysis was performed on samples from OA patients and an exosome analysis on papain-induced OA rats,revealing miR-122-5p as the key regulator associated with CS-semi5 in OA treatment.Binding prediction revealed that miR-122-5p acted on the 30-untranslated region of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase,which was related to MMP13 regulation.Subsequent in vitro experiments revealed that CS-semi5 effectively reduced cartilage degeneration and maintained matrix homeostasis by inhibiting matrix breakdown through the miR-122-5p/p38/MMP13 axis,which was further validated in the articular cartilage of OA rats.This is the first study to investigate the semi-synthesized chondroitin sulfate CS-semi5,revealing its cartilageprotecting,anti-inflammatory,and analgesic properties that show promising therapeutic effects in OA via the miR-122-5p/p38/MMP13 pathway.

Effects of fibers on expansive shotcrete mixtures consisting of calcium sulfoaluminate cement,ordinary Portland cement,and calcium sulfate

The mining industry often uses shotcrete for ground stabilization. However, cracking within shotcrete is commonly observed, which delays production schedules and increases maintenance costs. A possible crack reduction method is using expansive shotcrete mixture consisting of calcium sulfoaluminate cement(CSA), ordinary Portland cement(OPC), and calcium sulfate(CS) to reduce shrinkage. Furthermore, fibers can be added to the mixture to restrain expansion and impede cracking. The objective of this paper is to study the effects of nylon fiber, glass fiber, and steel fiber on an expansive shotcrete mixture that can better resist cracking. In this study, parameters such as density, water absorption, volume of permeable voids, unconfined compressive strength(UCS), splitting tensile strength(STS), and volume change of fiber-added expansive mixtures were determined at different time periods(i.e. the strengths on the 28 th day, and the volume changes on the 1 st, 7 th, 14 th, 21 st, and 28 th days). The results show that addition of fibers can improve mixture durability, in the form of decreased water absorption and reduced permeable pore space content. Moreover, the expansion of the CSA-OPC-CS mixture was restrained up to50% by glass fiber, up to 43% by nylon fiber, and up to 28% by steel fiber. The results show that the STS was improved by 57% with glass fiber addition, 43% with steel fiber addition, and 38% with nylon fiber addition. The UCS was also increased by 31% after steel fiber addition, 26% after nylon fiber addition, and16% after glass fiber addition. These results suggest that fiber additions to the expansive shotcrete mixtures can improve durability and strengths while controlling expansion.