Heparinase selectively sheds heparan sulphate from the endothelial glycocalyx.
A healthy vascular endothelium is coated by the endothelial glycocalyx. Its main constituents are transmembrane syndecans and bound heparan sulphates. This structure maintains the physiological endothelial permeability barrier and prevents leukocyte and platelet adhesion, thereby mitigating inflammation and tissue oedema. Heparinase, a bacterial analogue to heparanase, is known to attack the glycocalyx. However, the exact extent and specificity of degradation is unresolved. We show by electron microscopy, immunohistological staining and quantitative measurements of the constituent parts, that heparinase selectively sheds heparan sulphate from the glycocalyx, but not the syndecans.
Chappell
Daniel
D
Clinic of Anaesthesiology, Ludwig Maximilians University, Nussbaumstr. 20, D-80336 Munich.
Jacob
Matthias
M
Rehm
Markus
M
Stoeckelhuber
Mechthild
M
Welsch
Ulrich
U
Conzen
Peter
P
Becker
Bernhard F
BF
D000818:Animals; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019276:Glycocalyx / Q000378:metabolism*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D019763:Heparin Lyase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010477:Perfusion; D053668:Syndecan-1 / Q000378:metabolism
D019763:Heparin Lyase; D006497:Heparan Sulfate; D053668:Syndecan-1