Fucoidans: pro- or antiangiogenic agents?

Sulfated polysaccharides of brown algae (fucoidans) attract great attention due to their high and strongly diversified biological activity. This review summarizes recent data on the structural variability of these polysaccharides and reports their anti- and proangiogenic properties. Recent publications have revealed that fucoidans isolated from different algal species may differ considerably in the structures of their backbones and branches, in both monosaccharide composition and sulfate content. It was found that the degree of sulfation significantly influences the biological properties of fucoidans. Additionally, fucoidan action in angiogenesis is highly dependent on molecular weight: antiangiogenic activity is connected with the high-molecular weight of polysaccharide molecules, whereas the low-molecular-weight fractions may act as proangiogenic agents. The influence of other fine structural details of fucoidans on angiogenesis remains to be established.