Question

This glycopolysaccharide has been shown to help rebuild damaged cartilage in some people

a. heparin b. keratin sulfate c. dermatan sulfate d. chondroitin sulfate e. hyaluronate

Answer 1

Chondroitin sulfate(CS) increases the hyaluronan production by human synovial cells, which has a beneficial effect on maintaining viscosity in the synovial fluid [79]. It has been shown that CS stimulates the chondrocyte metabolism, leading to the synthesis of collagen and proteoglycan, the basic components of new cartilage. Furthermore, CS inhibits the enzymes leukocyte elastase and hyaluronidase, which are found in high concentration in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatic diseases. CS also increases the production of hyaluronic acid by synovial cells, which subsequently improves the viscosity and the synovial fluid levels. In general, CS inhibits cartilage destruction processes and stimulates the anabolic processes involved in new cartilage formation (for review see [6, 69]). In addition, CS, when added to chondrocyte cultures, produces a dose-dependent increase in cell proliferation.