AIMS In this study, we wished to determine whether angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) modified the permeability coefficients of non-inflamed, intact continuous, and fenestrated microvessels in vivo and to elucidate the underlying cellular mechanisms. METHODS AND RESULTS Permeability coefficients were measured using the Landis-Michel technique (in frog and rat mesenteric microvessels) and an oncopressive p...

PURPOSE A glycocalyx plays important roles in the ocular surface epithelium, but there is no direct simple method to evaluate ocular surface glycocalyx. We tested a wheat germ agglutinin conjugate of fluorescein (F-WGA) as a marker to demonstrate ocular surface glycocalyx in vivo. METHODS After a 5% F-WGA solution was applied to the eyes of eight healthy volunteers, fluorescent intensities of...

The Poisson-Boltzmann equation is modified to consider charge ionogenicity, steric exclusion, and charge distribution in order to describe the perimembranous electrostatic potential profile in a manner consistent with the known morphology and biochemical composition of the cell's glycocalyx. Exact numerical and approximate analytical solutions are given for various charge distributions and for ...

Damage to the endothelial glycocalyx is a critical factor in increased pulmonary vascular permeability, which is the basic pathological feature of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Neferine (Nef), a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from green seed embryos of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, has extensive pharmacological activity. In this study, we showed that Nef reduced lung-capillary...

The glycocalyx is a carbohydrate-rich layer that lines the luminal side of the vascular endothelium. Its soluble components exist in a dynamic equilibrium with the bloodstream and play an important role in maintaining endothelial layer integrity. However, the glycocalyx can be easily damaged and is extremely vulnerable to insults from a variety of sources, including inflammation, trauma, haemor...

OBJECTIVE It is widely accepted that the presence of a glycosaminoglycan-rich glycocalyx is essential for endothelialized vasculature health; in fact, a damaged or impaired glycocalyx has been demonstrated in many vascular diseases. Currently, there are no methods that characterize glycocalyx functionality, thus limiting investigators' ability to assess the role of the glycocalyx in vascular he...

Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. The endothelial glycocalyx is one of the earliest sites involved during sepsis. This fragile layer is a complex network of cell-bound proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycan side chains, and sialoproteins lining the luminal side of endothelial cells with a thickness of about 1 to 3 μm. Sepsis...

Endothelial glycocalyx degradation induced by fluid overload adds to the concern of a detrimental effect of uncontrolled fluid resuscitation and the risk of unnecessary fluid infusion. As a consequence, the use of new tools for monitoring response to fluids appears promising. From that perspective, the monitoring of plasma concentration of glycocalyx degradation markers could be useful.

The endothelial glycocalyx is a hair-like surface layer mainly consisted of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) that includes heparan sulfate (HS), chondroitin sulfate (CS), and hyaluronic acid (HA) and its bearing core proteins (syndecan, glypican, and perlecan). This mini review presents the visualization and measurement techniques of the endothelial glycocalyx up to now, providing insight to the diagn...

To the editor. The viewpoints put forward by both Point (1) and Counterpoint (4) presenters clearly illustrate that there is a potential for recruitment of capillary reserve in muscle during exercise and in response to insulin administration. The question at hand that arises from the Point/Counterpoint discussion is how capillary blood volume can be increased by muscle contractions or insulin (...