Smart mechanisms allow frictionless slipping of rather rigid erythrocytes (red blood cells, RBC) through narrow blood vessels. Nature solved this problem in an elegant way coating the moving object (RBC) and the tunnel wall (endothelium) by negative charges (glycocalyx). As long as these surfaces are intact, repulsive forces create a ‘security zone’ that keeps the respective surfaces separated ...

Hyaluronan (HA) in the endothelial glycocalyx serves as a mechanotransducer for high-shear-stress-stimulated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation and nitric oxide (NO) production. Low shear stress (LSS) has been shown to contribute to endothelial inflammation and atherosclerosis by impairing the barrier and mechanotransduction properties of the glycocalyx. Here we focus on t...

BACKGROUND Some low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) prolong survival of cancer patients and inhibit experimental metastasis. The underlying mechanisms are still not clear but it has been suggested that LMWHs (at least in part) limit metastasis by preventing cancer cell-induced destruction of the endothelial glycocalyx. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS To prove or refute this hypothesis, we de...

The endothelial glycocalyx, a glycosaminoglycan layer located on the apical surface of vascular endothelial cells, has been shown to be important for several endothelial functions. Previous studies have documented that the glycocalyx is highly abundant in the mouse common carotid region, where the endothelium is exposed to laminar shear stress, and it is resistant to atherosclerosis. In contras...

Enterocytes are unique cells governing an array of processes. They are covered by the gut glycocalyx, which is an extraneous carbohydrate-rich coat and an integral part of the plasma membrane. The intestinal glycocalyx and secreted mucins constitute a glycosylated milieu which has a number of physiological and protective functions. One of the important functions of the glycocalyx is its barrier...

BACKGROUND Microbubble adherence to endothelial cells is enhanced after damage to the glycocalyx. The authors tested the hypothesis that exogenous surfactants delivered intravascularly have differential effects on the rate of restoration of blood flow after heparinase-induced degradation of the endothelial glycocalyx. METHODS Air microbubbles were injected into the rat cremaster microcirculat...

The endothelial glycocalyx is believed to play a major role in capillary permeability by functioning as a macromolecular barrier overlying the intercellular junction. Little is known about the functional attributes of the glycocalyx (i.e., porosity and permeability) or which constituents contribute to its overall structure-function relationship. In this report, we demonstrate the utility of flu...

The aim of the paper is to develop a simple model for capillary tissue fluid exchange system to study the effect of glycocalyx layer on the single file flow of red cells. We have considered the channel version of an idealized Krogh capillary-tissue exchange system. The glycocalyx and the tissue are represented as porous layers with different property parametric values. Hydrodynamic Lubrication ...

To assess the role of glycocalyx production in the pathogenesis of endocarditis caused by viridans group streptococci in adult patients, glycocalyx production was examined for 49 blood culture isolates. The tryptophan assay, a quantitative spectrophotometric test, was used to measure cell-adherent glycocalyx production. Absorbance values of the isolates that produced endocarditis were significa...

The endothelial glycocalyx is composed of glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans within a highwater-content meshwork overlying the endothelial cells lining blood vessels. This structure maintains the integrity of vascular permeability, protects endothelial cells against leukocytes and red blood cells, and regulates vascular flow and function.1,2 The preservation of the thickness o...