Anticoagulant and antithrombotic evaluation of native fucosylated chondroitin sulfates and their derivatives as selective inhibitors of intrinsic factor Xase

•Native fucosylated chondroitin sulfates (FCS) and their derivatives were prepared.•Their chemical structures of FCSs and their derivatives were analyzed.•Their relationships between structures and anticoagulant activities were elucidated.•Bleeding risk and factor XII and platelet activation of native FCS were eliminated.•FCS oligosaccharides may be novel drug candidates as selective Xase inhibitors.

Fucosylated chondroitin sulfate (FCS), a structurally unusual glycosaminoglycan, has distinct anticoagulant properties, and is an especially strong inhibitor of the intrinsic factor Xase (anti-Xase). To obtain a highly selective inhibitor of human Xase, we purified six native FCSs with various sulfation patterns, prepared a series of FCS derivatives, and then elucidated the relationship between the structures and the anticoagulant activities of FCSs. FCSs 1–3 containing higher Fuc2S4S exhibit stronger AT-dependent anti-IIa activities, whereas 4–6 containing more Fuc3S4S produce potent HCII-dependent anti-IIa activities. Saccharides containing a minimum of 6–8 trisaccharide units, free carboxyl groups, and full fucosylation of GlcA may be required for potent anti-Xase activity, and approximately six trisaccharide units and partial fucosylation of GlcA may contribute to potent HCII-dependent activity. Decreasing of the molecular weights markedly reduces their AT-dependent anti-IIa activities, and even eliminates human platelet and factor XII activation. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo studies suggested that fractions of 6–12 kDa may be very promising compounds as putative selective intrinsic Xase inhibitors with antithrombotic action, but without the consequences of major bleeding and factor XII activation.

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