Endothelial glycocalyx hyaluronan biosynthesis and function in microcirculation

Abstract

The endothelial glycocalyx (EG) is critically involved in vascular integrity and homeostasis, where it regulates endothelial cell mechanotransduction, vascular permeability, coagulation and inflammation. Loss of the glomerular EG component, hyaluronan, results in albuminuria and vascular destabilisation. Glomerular loss of hyaluronan has a profound effect on endothelial stability, and similar effects were observed in tumor vessels of metastatic melanomas and in muscular tissue of diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia. Endothelial hyaluronan biosynthesis is critically determined by the endothelial metabolic state which glycolysis is a determining factor of endothelial hyaluronan biosynthesis and function.