What’s dermatan sulfate?

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Dermatan sulfate is a carbohydrate found in the connective tissue of animals. A polysaccharide, it forms in long chains made up of repeating molecular units. These chains are an important structural component of the material that fills the space between cells throughout the body; their role is similar to that of cellulose and other forms of fiber in plants. Dermatan sulfate is found primarily in the skin, where it is the most common molecule of its kind, and in the walls of blood vessels.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to discuss the chemical nature of this substance without using many very long words. It is classified as a glycosaminoglycan (GAG), a group of chemicals also called mucopolysaccharides. These are linear chains of carbohydrates made up of repeating subunits; each subunit is a molecule composed of two simple sugars. In dermatan sulfate, these two sugars are iduronic acid (IdUA) and n-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc). Other GAGs include keratan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate and heparin.

Dermatan sufate is also known as beta-heparin and is sometimes called chondroitin sulfate B. It was once believed to be an alternative form of chondroitin sulfate, a similar molecule that is the most common GAG and also a major component of cartilage. Now they are considered different chemicals. The chondroitin sulfate molecule contains glucuronic acid (GlcUA) instead of iduronic acid.

In addition to its role as a major constituent of the skin and other organs, dermatan sulfate is thought to play a role in wound repair, regulation of blood clotting, and response to infection, although its role in these processes is not well understood. included. Along with heparin and some other chemicals from the same family, it is sometimes injected as an anticoagulant drug.

Dermatan sulfate is also thought to play a role in a number of diseases, including tumor formation, fibrosis, and various developmental syndromes. Glycosaminoglycans are generally not water soluble and require special enzymes to break them down. Occasionally, individuals have difficulty producing these enzymes and GAGs can build up in the body.

Diseases in which this occurs are called mucopolysaccharidosis disorders. Dermatan sulfate excesses have been linked to bone lesions, corneal opacities and blindness, and impaired physical and mental development. Mucopolysaccharidosis disorders can sometimes be treated with bone marrow transplants or enzyme replacement therapy.

When dermatan sulfate builds up in the mitral valve of the heart, it can lead to mitral valve prolapse. It is also believed to play a key role in atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in arterial walls. Investigations continue into the role it could play in other diseases of the heart and cardiovascular system.

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