Abstract
Background Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is mostly obtained from porcine and bovine mucosa and has been widely used for the treatment and prevention of thrombotic events. It consists of molecular chains of various lengths varying from 2000 to 40,000 Da [1]. Low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) are smaller chains of UFH that can be obtained, from unfractionated heparin, by various chemical and enzymatic depolymerization processes and since they are produced from natural heparin, they must share structural and functional features with the parent compound, however, the depolymerization process used for their production leads to unique structural and functional characters. Apart from its noble anticoagulant properties, heparin and its derivatives can interact and modulate proteins involved in different biological process such as inflammation [2] and angiogenesis [3]; yet, its mechanism of action are still under debate. Furthermore, heparin broader use is still impaired due to its strong anticoagulant activity and hemorrhagic complications.
Highlights
Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is mostly obtained from porcine and bovine mucosa and has been widely used for the treatment and prevention of thrombotic events
Over the years we’ve shown differences in heparin structure, molecular weight and biological activities revealing a tremendous level of variability
The commercial heparins from bovine lung and bovine mucosa differ in the amounts and content of their constituent
Summary
Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is mostly obtained from porcine and bovine mucosa and has been widely used for the treatment and prevention of thrombotic events. Methods Employing several physical-chemical analyses, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, scanning ultraviolet spectroscopy, circular dichroism and chromatographic techniques, coupled to various in vivo and in vitro biological and functional assays, our laboratory has been, for several decades, in the forefront of heparin and heparin-like structure/function studies as well as their distribution in the animal kingdom. Results and conclusions Over the years we’ve shown differences in heparin structure, molecular weight and biological activities revealing a tremendous level of variability.
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