Dextran sulfate sodium salt (MW 35000-45000)

Dextran sulfate sodium salt (MW 35000-45000) (CAS 9011-18-1) is a sulfated polysaccharide derived from the polymerization of dehydrated glucose units. Functioning as a potent polyanionic compound, DSS is widely utilized as a chemical inducer of experimental colitis in murine models, notably through direct administration in drinking water or feed. It acts primarily on the colonic epithelium, where it disrupts epithelial integrity, inducing apoptosis and loss of barrier function, thus enabling the study of acute and chronic intestinal inflammation. Additionally, DSS exhibits inhibitory activity against certain viral replication processes, including inhibition of HIV-1, by interfering with viral adsorption and entry at concentrations that do not significantly affect blood coagulation pathways.

In experimental settings, Dextran sulfate sodium salt is commonly used at a 5% concentration (w/w in feed) to induce acute colitis in mice, resulting in marked colonic epithelial cell apoptosis. DSS exposure leads to symptoms reminiscent of human ulcerative colitis, such as weight loss, diarrhea, and histological evidence of mucosal damage, making it a standard model for evaluating therapeutic agents and elucidating inflammatory mechanisms. Furthermore, DSS provides a protective effect for MT-4 cells against HIV-1-induced cytopathicity and serves as a critical tool for assessing compound efficacy against DSS-induced tissue injury or immune responses.

In biomedical research, Dextran sulfate sodium salt (MW 35000-45000) is widely employed for the induction of inflammatory bowel disease models, evaluation of anti-inflammatory compounds, and investigation of host-pathogen interactions, thereby contributing substantially to preclinical drug discovery and mechanistic studies in immunology and virology.