Serum heparan sulfate concentration in healthy subjects

Abstract

Heparan sulfate is one of the essential components of extracellular matrices and plasma membrane. They take part in the interaction with protein ligands, which affects the metabolism, transport, information transfer, support and regulation in all organ systems. The aim of the study was to examine the physiological HS level in the serum of the healthy subjects, as well as to check if this level is age- and sex- related.
The research was conducted on 30 healthy subjects: 16 women and 14 men, aged from 23 to 65 years, with the average of 30 years. Quantificational determination of HS was performed with the use of Heparan Sulfate ELISA kit. Concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were measured with the use of standard enzymatic methods. The LDL-cholesterol was analyzed by direct method, and non-HDL-cholesterol was calculated. Based on the conducted research, it can be concluded that higher HS serum concentrations were observed in the group of healthy men compared to women group, and in the older ≥30 year-old group. The determination of serum HS concentration should consider gender and age differences in the result interpretation. Changes in HS serum concentrations are not correlated with the changes in the lipid profile parameters. For complete determining of existing statistical correlations between HS concentration, age, gender and the lipid profile parameters study results require confirmation on a greater number of cases.