The relationship between sulfated polysaccharides and atherosclerosis / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

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.