Oral administration of dermatan sulphate reduces venous thrombus formation in vivo: potential use as a formulation for venous thromboembolism

Dermatan sulphate (DS) is a sulphated polysaccharide that displays complexity in constituent sulphated disaccharides and interacts with proteins and signalling molecules to modulate numerous biological processes, including inhibition of the coagulation cascade and regulation of blood clotting and fibrinolysis. This study shows the antithrombotic and anticoagulant effects of DS prepared from bovine collagen waste liquor following oral and intravenous administrations in a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) rabbit model. In vitro, the prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin citrated plasma clotting assays revealed that bovine DS had strong antithrombotic and anticoagulant effects comparable to low-molecular-weight heparin [Clexane® (enoxaparin sodium)]. In a DVT rabbit model, animals received intravenous and oral administrations of bovine DS and Clexane® providing further evidence that both agents had strong antithrombotic and anticoagulant effects by significantly reducing or preventing clot formation. Thromboelastography (TEG) assays revealed further that both bovine DS and Clexane® substantially prolonged the clotting time of recalcified citrated whole blood, but only bovine DS could retain clot strength suggesting that bovine DS had less effect on platelet–fibrin interactions. In conclusion, this is the first report that oral administration of DS from bovine collagen waste liquor reduces experimental venous thrombus formation warranting further research into bovine DS as an oral antithrombotic therapeutic.