Inflammation and arthritis: perspectives of the glycobiologist

Abstract

This review focuses on the role of glycosylation during the development of joint inflammation and degeneration. Although glycoproteins and glycan-binding proteins have essential functions in bone and cartilage, and in the inflammatory process, their exact roles are still uncertain due to the vast complexity of carbohydrate structures. Glycosylated epitopes have been shown to play a role in the induction of arthritis in animal models. Currently available drugs are aimed at the protection of cartilage and bone structures but new developments in this area should take into account the tight and specific interactions between bone and cartilage. It is anticipated that new agents will help to remodel damaged joints, based on knowledge of cartilage and bone turnover and on the exact role of glycosylated molecules and cell surface receptor glycoproteins in these processes. Highly sensitive imaging techniques and well-characterized In vivo models will accelerate this development.

Keywords::

• advanced glycation end product
• arthritis
• bone
• cartilage
• collagen
• glucosamine
• glycoprotein
• glycosylation
• inflammation

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors are thankful for financial support from the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (I.B.), NSERC and CIHR (T.A.). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.