419
chondroitin sulfate (Hashiguchi et al. 2011 ), dermatan sulfate (Chatziioannidis et al.
1999 ; Sakai et al. 2003 ; Dhahri et al. 2010 ), aggrecan (Kakizaki et al. 2011 ) and
hyaluronan (Pfeiler et al. 2002 ) has been also isolated from marine vertebrates,
mostly from fi sh.
Hyaluronic acid (HA), or hyaluronan is a linear naturally occurring polysaccharide
formed from repeating disaccharide units of D-glucuronate and N-acetyl-D- glucosamine
(see for review Kogan et al. 2007 ). Here, the characterization of this biopolymer
given by Volpi et al. ( 2009 ):
“Despite its relatively simple structure, HA is an extraordinarily versatile
glycosaminoglycan currently receiving attention across a wide front of research areas.
It has a very high molar mass, usually in the order of millions of Daltons, and
possesses interesting visco-elastic properties based on its polymeric and polyelectrolyte characteristics. HA is omnipresent in the human body and in other vertebrates. It occurs in almost all biological fl uids and tissues, although the highest
amounts of HA are found in the extracellular matrix of soft connective tissues. HA
is involved in several key processes, including cell signaling, wound repair and
regeneration, morphogenesis, matrix organization and pathobiology. Clinically, it is
used as a diagnostic marker for many disease states including cancer, rheumatoid
arthritis, liver pathologies, and as an early marker for impending rejection following
organ transplantation. It is also used for supplementation of impaired synovial fl uid
in arthritic patients and for patients following cataract surgery, and as a fi ller in
cosmetic and soft tissue surgery,” (Volpi et al. 2009 ). Additional applications include
use “as a device in several surgical procedures, particularly as an anti-adhesive
following abdominal procedures, and also in tissue engineering,” (Volpi et al. 2009 ;
see also Prestwich 2011 ).
Hyaluronan has been identifi ed as the principal glycosaminoglycan in the highly
hydrated, extracellular body matrix of the larval stage (leptocephalus) of seven
species of true eels (Teleostei: Elopomorpha: Anguilliformes) and the ladyfi sh
Elops saurus (Elopiformes), and was found as a minor GAG component in the
bonefi sh Albula sp. (Albuliformes) (Pfeiler et al. 2002 ). The authors reported that
“in addition to its presumed role in maintaining the structural integrity and hydration of the gelatinous body of the leptocephalus, HA is postulated to function as a
storage polysaccharide in those species in which it is the predominant GAG,”
(Pfeiler et al. 2002 ).
Both heparin cofactor II and antithrombin are possible mediators of synthesis
of a dermatan sulfate, an example of highly sulfated polysaccharide, which have
been isolated from the ray Raja radula skin. It was showed that dermatan sulfate
exhibited a high anticoagulant activity (Ben Mansour et al. 2009a , b , 2010 ). Similar
activity of a dermatan sulfate from the skin of the shark Scyliorhinus canicula was
also reported by Dhahri et al. ( 2010 ). The substance of the shark origin showed
anticoagulant effect that was higher than that isolated from pork. Fish dermatan
sulfate was not effective in platelet aggregation and, therefore, may be useful in
anticoagulant therapy (Dhahri et al. 2010 ).
13.1 Conclusion
chondroitin sulfate (Hashiguchi et al. 2011 ), dermatan sulfate (Chatziioannidis et al.
1999 ; Sakai et al. 2003 ; Dhahri et al. 2010 ), aggrecan (Kakizaki et al. 2011 ) and
hyaluronan (Pfeiler et al. 2002 ) has been also isolated from marine vertebrates,
mostly from fi sh.
Hyaluronic acid (HA), or hyaluronan is a linear naturally occurring polysaccharide
formed from repeating disaccharide units of D-glucuronate and N-acetyl-D- glucosamine
(see for review Kogan et al. 2007 ). Here, the characterization of this biopolymer
given by Volpi et al. ( 2009 ):
“Despite its relatively simple structure, HA is an extraordinarily versatile
glycosaminoglycan currently receiving attention across a wide front of research areas.
It has a very high molar mass, usually in the order of millions of Daltons, and
possesses interesting visco-elastic properties based on its polymeric and polyelectrolyte characteristics. HA is omnipresent in the human body and in other vertebrates. It occurs in almost all biological fl uids and tissues, although the highest
amounts of HA are found in the extracellular matrix of soft connective tissues. HA
is involved in several key processes, including cell signaling, wound repair and
regeneration, morphogenesis, matrix organization and pathobiology. Clinically, it is
used as a diagnostic marker for many disease states including cancer, rheumatoid
arthritis, liver pathologies, and as an early marker for impending rejection following
organ transplantation. It is also used for supplementation of impaired synovial fl uid
in arthritic patients and for patients following cataract surgery, and as a fi ller in
cosmetic and soft tissue surgery,” (Volpi et al. 2009 ). Additional applications include
use “as a device in several surgical procedures, particularly as an anti-adhesive
following abdominal procedures, and also in tissue engineering,” (Volpi et al. 2009 ;
see also Prestwich 2011 ).
Hyaluronan has been identifi ed as the principal glycosaminoglycan in the highly
hydrated, extracellular body matrix of the larval stage (leptocephalus) of seven
species of true eels (Teleostei: Elopomorpha: Anguilliformes) and the ladyfi sh
Elops saurus (Elopiformes), and was found as a minor GAG component in the
bonefi sh Albula sp. (Albuliformes) (Pfeiler et al. 2002 ). The authors reported that
“in addition to its presumed role in maintaining the structural integrity and hydration of the gelatinous body of the leptocephalus, HA is postulated to function as a
storage polysaccharide in those species in which it is the predominant GAG,”
(Pfeiler et al. 2002 ).
Both heparin cofactor II and antithrombin are possible mediators of synthesis
of a dermatan sulfate, an example of highly sulfated polysaccharide, which have
been isolated from the ray Raja radula skin. It was showed that dermatan sulfate
exhibited a high anticoagulant activity (Ben Mansour et al. 2009a , b , 2010 ). Similar
activity of a dermatan sulfate from the skin of the shark Scyliorhinus canicula was
also reported by Dhahri et al. ( 2010 ). The substance of the shark origin showed
anticoagulant effect that was higher than that isolated from pork. Fish dermatan
sulfate was not effective in platelet aggregation and, therefore, may be useful in
anticoagulant therapy (Dhahri et al. 2010 ).
13.1 Conclusion