This review highlights the attributes of pentosan polysulfate (PPS) in the promotion of intervertebral disc (IVD) repair processes. PPS has been classified as a disease-modifying osteoarthritic drug (DMOAD) and many studies have demonstrated its positive attributes in the countering of degenerative changes occurring in cartilaginous tissues during the development of osteoarthritis (OA). Degenerative changes in the IVD also involve inflammatory cytokines, degradative proteases, and cell signaling pathways similar to those operative in the development of OA in articular cartilage. PPS acts as a heparan sulfate (HS) mimetic to effect its beneficial effects in cartilage. The IVD contains small cell membrane HS proteoglycans (HSPGs) such as syndecan, and glypican and a large multifunctional HS/chondroitin sulfate (CS) hybrid proteoglycan (HSPG2/perlecan), that have important matrix-stabilizing properties and sequester, control, and present growth factors from the FGF, VEGF, PDGF, and BMP families to cellular receptors to promote cell proliferation, differentiation, and matrix synthesis. HSPG2 also has chondrogenic properties and stimulates the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) components and expansion of cartilaginous rudiments, and has roles in matrix stabilization and repair. Perlecan is a perinuclear and nuclear proteoglycan (PG) in IVD cells with roles in chromatin organization and control of transcription factor activity, immunolocalizes to stem cell niches in cartilage, promotes escape of stem cells from quiescent recycling, differentiation and attainment of pluripotency and migratory properties. These participate in tissue development and morphogenesis, ECM remodeling and repair. PPS also localizes in the nucleus of stromal stem cells, promotes development of chondroprogenitor cell lineages, ECM synthesis and repair and discal repair by resident disc cells. The availability of recombinant perlecan and PPS offers new opportunities in repair biology. These multifunctional agents offer welcome new developments in repair strategies for the IVD.
Keywords: DMOAD; SP54; heparan sulfate; intervertebral disc; intervertebral disc repair; pentosan polysulfate.