Undersulfated chondroitin sulfate does not increase in osteoarthritic cartilage.

OBJECTIVE

To test whether there is undersulfation of chondroitin sulfate in osteoarthritic bovine articular cartilage to support the hypothesis that sulfate deficiency is involved with the development of osteoarthritis.

METHODS

Cartilage samples from bovine patellae (n = 32) were divided into 3 groups based on their osteoarthritic progression, as assessed by modified Mankin score. Uronic acid contents of the samples were determined. Fragmentation of the proteoglycans due to proteolytic processing was estimated with agarose gel electrophoresis. The molar ratios of chondroitin sulfate isoforms in the extracted proteoglycans were determined with fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis.

RESULTS

Loss of proteoglycans and accumulation of tissue water was evident in groups II and III, and progressive OA increased heterogeneity of aggrecan population in groups II and III. Importantly, the molar ratio of nonsulfated disaccharide was decreased in the osteoarthritic articular cartilage.

CONCLUSION

The structure of chondroitin sulfate in degenerated bovine cartilage did not support the hypothesis that sulfate depletion is present in osteoarthritic joint.