Endothelial glycocalyx and capillary barrier components (eGC)

The endothelial glycocalyx is a complex, gel-like layer composed of proteoglycans (such as syndecans and glypicans), glycosaminoglycans (including heparan sulfate and hyaluronan), and glycoproteins that lines the luminal surface of all blood vessels (NIH, 2023). It serves as a primary physiological barrier that regulates vascular permeability, maintains oncotic pressure gradients, and prevents the inappropriate adhesion of leukocytes and platelets to the vessel wall (Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 2023). Additionally, the glycocalyx acts as a mechanotransducer, sensing blood flow-induced shear stress to trigger the production of nitric oxide, which is essential for vasodilation and vascular health (MDPI, 2023). In pathological conditions such as sepsis, diabetes, and ischemia-reperfusion injury, the glycocalyx is rapidly degraded or "shed" by enzymes like heparanase and matrix metalloproteinases, leading to capillary leakage, tissue edema, and a pro-thrombotic environment (PubMed, 2022). Therapeutic strategies aim to protect this layer from enzymatic attack or restore its integrity using exogenous components like sulodexide or albumin, which can stabilize the endothelial surface and associated junctional proteins (Cardiovascular Research, 2010). Preserving the endothelial glycocalyx and capillary barrier components is increasingly recognized as a critical goal in treating acute organ dysfunction and chronic vascular diseases (StatPearls, 2024).

Other names

Endothelial surface layerESLGlycocalyxEndothelial barrierMicrovascular barrierVascular endothelial glycocalyx

Restoration of glycocalyx structural components, inhibition of shedding enzymes such as heparanase and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), stabilization of endothelial tight and adherens junctions, and reduction of oxidative stress to prevent degradation.