Although, several effects of
glucosamine and its sulfated form (sulfated
glucosamine) have been proposed for the suppression of
osteoarthritis, their exact mechanisms have not been completely elucidated. This study explains the novel possibility of involvement of sulfated
glucosamine in improving cellular
antioxidant potential and thereby controlling oxidative damage that could be effective for its therapeutic potential in
osteoarthritis. Treatment with sulfated
glucosamine to human chondrocytes and macrophages inhibited radical simulated oxidation of
membrane lipids,
proteins and
DNA in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, detection of
reactive oxygen species by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy and 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluororescein diacetate (
DCFH-DA) fluorescence probe clearly confirmed effective radical scavenging potential of sulfated
glucosamine in cellular and non-cellular systems. More importantly,
NF-kappaB reporter gene assay and western blot analysis revealed that sulfated
glucosamine inhibits radical mediated expression and activation of
nuclear factor kappaB (
NF-kappaB)
proteins (
transcription factor involves in expression of a number of genes related to
osteoarthritis). Further, sulfated
glucosamine enhanced
reduced glutathione (GSH) level in oxidatively stressed human chondrocytes improving cellular redox balance. In conclusion, it is suggested that potential effects of sulfated
glucosamine in controlling
osteoarthritis might be partly via mechanisms involving direct scavenging of cellular radical species and alteration of oxidation mediated destructive events.