title: The glycocalyx regulates the uptake of nanoparticles by human endothelial cells in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the role of the endothelial glycocalyx (eGCX) for the uptake of nanoparticles by endothelial cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of the eGCX on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells was determined by immunostaining of heparan sulfate. Enzymatic degradation of the eGCX was achieved by incubating the cells with eGCX-shedding enzymes. The uptake of 50-nm polystyrene nanospheres was quantified by confocal microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human umbilical vein endothelial cells expressed a robust eGCX when cultured for 10 days. The uptake of both carboxylated and aminated polystyrene nanospheres was significantly increased in cells in which the glycocalyx was enzymatically degraded, while it remained at a low level in cells with an intact glycocalyx.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The eGCX constitutes a barrier against the internalization of blood-borne nanoparticles by endothelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr. 11, 81377 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Leonhard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Möckl
authors.affiliation: Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirn
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr. 11, 81377 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Adriano A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Torrano
authors.affiliation: Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Uhl
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr. 11, 81377 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bräuchle
authors.affiliation: Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Krombach
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019276:Glycocalyx / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000737:chemistry; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases / Q000737:chemistry; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D006497:Heparan Sulfate; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase; D009439:Neuraminidase; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases; D011137:Polystyrenes; C021349:heparitinsulfate lyase
keywords: endothelial cells; glycocalyx; heparan sulfate; live-cell imaging; nanoparticles; nanoparticle–endothelium interactions; polystyrene nanospheres