chondroitin-sulfates and Spinal-Diseases

The functions of the intervertebral disc and of articular cartilage are intimately related to their aggrecan content. Aggrecan is a proteoglycan that interacts with hyaluronan to form large aggregates, which are responsible for the ability of the tissues to resist compressive loads. This function is related to the structure of aggrecan, and in particular to the large number of chondroitin sulphate chains present on its core protein. The chondroitin sulphate chains are present in two adjacent regions of the aggrecan core protein, termed the CS1 and CS2 domains. In the human, the region of the aggrecan gene encoding the CS1 domain exhibits size polymorphism, which can result in variation in the degree of chondroitin sulphate substitution of aggrecan in different individuals. This raises the possibility that the functional properties of aggrecan may vary between individuals, and that those individuals with an inferior aggrecan structure may be more susceptible to premature intervertebral disc or articular cartilage degeneration. Several studies have been performed to demonstrate such an association, but the results have been ambiguous. This review explains the relationship between aggrecan structure and function, describes the technique used to assess aggrecan polymorphism and the conclusions and limitations of the data obtained to date, and discusses the implications for tissue degeneration and clinical practice.

Topics: Aggrecans; Alleles; Cartilage, Articular; Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; Chondroitin Sulfates; DNA; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; Extracellular Matrix Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Intervertebral Disc; Lectins, C-Type; Osteoarthritis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Genetic; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Spinal Diseases

Topics: Back Pain; Balneology; Chondroitin Sulfates; Combined Modality Therapy; Humans; Intervertebral Disc; Nerve Compression Syndromes; Osteochondritis; Papain; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Radiography; Spinal Diseases

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aging; Animals; Child, Preschool; Chondroitin Sulfates; Collagen; Elastin; Glycoproteins; Glycosides; Humans; Hydroxylysine; Intervertebral Disc; Keratan Sulfate; Male; Middle Aged; Molecular Weight; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Peptide Fragments; Proteoglycans; Species Specificity; Spinal Diseases; Swine

To assess the response to chondroitin sulfate (structum) in low back pain (LBP) due to spinal osteochondrosis.. 30 patients (mean age 51.4 years) with a definite primary LBP took structum in a dose 1 g/day for 24 weeks. The diagnosis was made according to WHO recommendations (2000). The response was assessed with uniform international questionnaires and visual analogue scale.. The treatment reduced pain syndrome and improved spinal function in 73.3% patients with LBP studied.. It would be valid to include long-acting chondroprotective drugs in the program of LBP in spinal osteochondrosis.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Chondroitin Sulfates; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Osteochondritis; Pain; Spinal Diseases; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome

Coil springs were stretched and attached to produce a compressive force across the lumbar intervertebral discs of dogs for up to 27 weeks.. To test the hypothesis that a high compressive force applied over a period of time affects the production of proteoglycans and collagen by the intervertebral disc cells.. It is a commonly held belief that high forces applied to the intervertebral disc, and to joints in general, play a role in causing degeneration.. Pairs of stainless steel coil springs were stretched and attached to produce a compressive force across the lumbar intervertebral discs (L1-L2 and L3-L4) of 16 dogs. Dogs were killed between 13 and 27 weeks after the springs were attached. The discs (L1-L2 and L3-L4) were excised and assessed using immunohistochemical analyses and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; T13-L1 and L4-L5 were used as controls.. The main result relates to a group effect in the six dogs, assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, that were generally at the highest values of force for the greatest number of weeks. For the nucleus, but not the anulus, Spearman rank correlations revealed a strong correlation between increases in force and force-weeks (force multiplied by number of weeks) and increases in collagen type I accompanied by decreases in proteoglycans, chondroitin sulfate, and collagen type II for both experimental discs (L1-L2 and L3-L4), as compared with corresponding values in the controls (T13-L1 and L4-L5). In other words, as either the force or the force-weeks increased, the effect on the nucleus became greater.. A high compressive force applied to the disc over a period of time initiates changes in proteoglycans and collagen.

Topics: Aggrecans; Animals; Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; Chondroitin Sulfates; Collagen; Dogs; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Extracellular Matrix Proteins; Glycoproteins; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Intervertebral Disc; Lectins, C-Type; Lumbar Vertebrae; Male; Proteoglycans; Radiography; Spinal Diseases; Stress, Mechanical

Previous studies have presented evidence that an underlying cause of intervertebral disc degeneration is related to changes in the sulfation of the proteoglycans. The sulfation of the chondroitin in cadaveric lumbar intervertebral discs, at two different stages of degeneration as assessed by discogram, were analyzed. Fourteen of 28 lumbar discs were graded 2 and the other 14 were graded 4 (i.e., more degenerated). From each disc, six regional segments were carefully isolated. Proteoglycans were solubilized from the disc tissue with 4 M GuHCl. Chondroitin sulfate chains were analyzed by diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-Sephacel and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) anion exchange chromatography. The major differences in sulfation of the chondroitin between grade 2 and grade 4 discs only occurred in the posterior central annulus and nucleus segments. The chondroitin in the posterior central nucleus segments of the grade 2 and grade 4 intervertebral discs were undersulfated as compared with the other segments, and the differences between these segments and the others were more accentuated in the grade 4 discs than in grade 2 discs.

Topics: Cadaver; Chondroitin Sulfates; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Ion Exchange; Humans; Intervertebral Disc; Lumbar Vertebrae; Middle Aged; Radiography; Spinal Diseases

The variation with age and spinal level of the glycosaminoglycan distribution in beagle (a chondrodystrophoid breed) intervertebral discs have been assessed by means of histochemical and chemical methods. Chondroitin sulphate is the major glycosaminoglycan of the immature beagle disc, but with ageing, this is partially replaced by keratosulphate. The level of glycosaminoglycans in the nucleus pulposus is markedly less than in the nonchondrodystrophoid breed and by 1 year of age, the beagle nucleus pulposus has become largely fibrocartilagious. This alteration in 'normal' disc developments is possibly associated with the elevated incidence of disc disorders in the chondrodystrophoid breeds.

Topics: Aging; Animals; Chondroitin Sulfates; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Galactosamine; Glucosamine; Glycosaminoglycans; Hexosamines; Hexoses; Intervertebral Disc; Sialic Acids; Spinal Diseases; Uronic Acids