Heparan sulfate Heparin

The major GAGs are hyaluronic acid, chondroitin 4- and 6-sulfates, keratan sulfates I and II, heparin, heparan sulfate, and dermatan sulfate. 

Specihc poly anions such as dextran sulfate (DS) appear to exhibit strong anti-HIV activity in vitro [36,37]. Human oral administration of DS is poorly absorbed, but intravaneous administration does result in increased plasma lipolytic activity [38]. Poly anions that have been considered for intravaginal anti-HIV activity include DS, carrageenan, heparin, heparan sulfate, dermatan sulfate, pentosan polysulfate, fucoidan chondroitin sulfate, keratan sulfate, and PAVAS [21,22,39,40],... 

Most of the polysaccharides of interest in this text are termed glycosaminoglycans, polymers that contain an amino sugar in the repeat unit. Glycosaminoglycans that are abundant in mammalian tissues include hyaluronan, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, keratan sulfate, and heparin-heparan sulfate (see Table 2.4). Most of these glycosaminoglycans,... 

Hyaluronic acid Chondroitin sulfate Dermatan sulfate Heparin Heparan sulfate Keratan sulfate... 

Older studies with radioactive precursors utilized in viuo have shown a half-life for skin hyaluronan of 2 to 5 days and for skin chondroitin sulfate of 7 to 14 days [86,87]. More recent work with cartilage indicates half-lives of approximately 7 and 50 days for large and small proteochondroitin sulfates, respectively [80]. Studies on the turnover of heparin, heparan sulfate, and dermatan sulfate indicate that degradation of the glycosaminoglycan components of these compounds in vivo occurs in mammalian systems. 

A heparin-binding protein, named penetrin, has been characterized in T. cruzi (83). It is a 60 kDa protein located on the surface of trypomastigotes and adheres to heparin, heparan sulfate, and collagen, three components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Coating of plastic surfaces with these molecules supported the attachment of T. cruzi. Therefore, penetrin may mediate interaction of T. cruzi with ECM and facilitate migration through basement membranes. In addition, penetrin binds to T. cruzi host cells, in a saturable and specific manner, suggesting that penetrin may also promote T. cruzi attachment to and invasion of host cells. Indeed, excess purified penetrin... 

Loo BM, Kreuger J, Jalkanen M, et al Binding of heparin/heparan sulfate to fibroblast growth factor re-... 

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