Emerging Therapeutic Role of Chondroitinase (ChABC) in Neurological Disorders and Cancer

Abstract: Proteoglycans are essential biomacromolecules that participate in matrix structure and organization, cell proliferation and migration, and cell surface signal transduction. However, their roles in physiology, particularly in CNS, remain incompletely deciphered. Numerous studies highlight the elevated levels of chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs) in various diseases, like cancers, and neurological disorders, like spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain damage, neurodegenerative diseases, and are mainly implicated to hinder tissue repair. In such a context, chondroitinase ABC (ChABC), a therapeutic enzyme, has shown immense hope to treat these diseases in several preclinical studies, primarily attributed to the digestion of the side chains of the proteoglycan chondroitin sulphate (CS) molecule. Despite extensive research, the progress in evolution of the concept of therapeutic targeting of proteoglycans is still in its infancy. This review thus provides fresh insights into the emerging therapeutic applications of ChABC in various diseases apart from SCI and the underlying mechanisms.