Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Chitosan stimulation of the growth of various cells may induce angiogenesis and granulation formation. However, little evidence reports the degradation products of chitosan on the angiogenesis.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influences of chitosan hydrolytic degradation product D-glucosamine on related behavior of endothelial cells to form blood vessel (including proliferation, migration and the formation of tube-like structure).
METHODS: Endothelial cells were cultured with D-glucosamine physiological saline solution of different concentrations, with saline as negative control. MTT colorimetric assay was used to determine cell proliferation and to calculate the relative growth rate. A nick was made with a scraper and recorded by taking some photos at different time, and cell relative migration rate was calculated. Tubular frame on the collagen surface formed by endothelial cells was observed. The average length was calculated to obtain the relative tubular structure ratio.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION : When the D-glucosamine concentration rose from 10 nmol/L to 1 mmol/L, the relative growth rate did not change markedly compared with control group (P > 0.05). When the concentration ≥ 10 mmol/L, relative growth rate reduced remarkably (P < 0.01). When the concentration ≤ 10 mmol/L, cells migrated, and relative migration rate did not change markedly compared with control group (P > 0.05). Relative migration rate fell down rapidly to 0.63% at 100 mmol/L. Along with an increasing concentration, the relative growth rate gradually reduced. At 100 mmol/L, cell migration rate wasn’t changed markedly, tube-like structure formation rate increased, thus promoting the vascularization of endothelial cells.