M. Tardieu et al., MESOGLYCAN AND SULODEXIDE ACT AS STABILIZERS AND PROTECTORS OF FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTORS (FGFS), Growth factors, 11(4), 1994, pp. 291-300
Heparin and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) stabilize FGFs which
belong to heparin-binding growth factors (HBGFs) on active conformati
on. They also strongly potentiate their mitogenic activity on many cel
l types, and protect them against thermal denaturation and enzymatic d
egradation. In the present work we have tested two heparin-like substa
nces named mesoglycan and sulodexide obtained from bovine intestinal m
ucosal extracts. These products are used as heparin, in various of the
rapeutic fields such as atherosclerosis or antithrombotic therapy. The
compositions of mesoglycan and sulodexide are partially known and inc
lude chondroitin, dermatan and heparan sulfate. We have shown that mes
oglycan and sulodexide potentiated the mitogenic activity of FGF1 and
FGF2. The magnitude of this effect was identical with that of heparin
used as a control substance but at double concentration. Mesoglycan an
d sulodexide also exerted stabilizing and protective effects on FGFs f
or heat denaturation and enzymatic degradation. The suppression of the
protective properties after heparinase treatment of mesoglycan and su
lodexide indirectly demonstrated the presence of heparan sulfate which
was shown to represent about 60% of the commercial products.