Separazione specifica e determinazione quantitativa del condroitin solfato in plasma umano normale

Aim of this study is to examine structure and physico-chemical properties of chondroitin sulfate in normal human plasma in relation to thè sex and age of human healthy volunteers. Chondroitin sulfate was purified from 15-20 mL of plasma of 17 male and 15 female. By agarose-gel electrophoresis and spectrophotometric analysis with DMB we recovered about 0.1 mg/100 mi of plasma chondroitin sulfate. No differences were detected between thè group of male and female donors and no significant relationship was determined between chondroitin sulfate concentration and age. This glycosaminoglycan has a peak molecular mass of about 15,OOO with a sulfate-to-carboxyl rado of about 0.55. This extraction and purification procedure and thè analytical techniques used to determine structure and physico-chemical properties of normal human plasma chondroitin sulfate can be adopted to evaluate possible differences in thè amount and primary structure of this glycosaminoglycan in plasma of patients suffering for particular diseases, such as degenerative and inflammatory conditions of articular cartilage. This may be useful in the diagnosis and follow up of therapy.