The relationship between sulfated polysaccharides and atheroscle rosis / 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 in itial stage of this process. Migration to subendothelial layer and accumulation and proliferation of smooth muscle cells were attributed to various cytokines an d adhesive molecules secreted by activated endothelial cells, subsequently resul ting in aggregation of lymphocytes,platelets, monocytes and macrophages in the i ntima of artery. These cellular components ultimatedly led to the formation of a mature atherosclerotic plaque. Its quite acknowledged that a better understan ding of the atherogenic events might promise us the development of new chemical entities of anti-atherosclerotic therapies. A large body of evidence has demons trated that sulfated polysaccharides played a critical role in the development o f atherosclerosis. The underlying mechanisms of the anti-atherosclerotic activi ty of sulfated polysaccharides were reported to contribute to protecting against endothelial cells injury,inhibiting migration and proliferation of vascular smo oth muscle cells, and reducing the adhesion of inflammatory cells, platelets and lymphocytes. And also, the prevention of complement activation by sulfated poly saccharides could not be excluded. On the other hand,the promoting effects of su lfated polysaccharides atherosclerosis was also reported. Its therefore conclu ded that the relationships between atheriosclerosis and sulfated polysaccharides remained to be further elucidated.