University of Alabama at Birmingham Researchers Yield New Data on Cell and Developmental Biology (Trauma promotes heparan sulfate modifications and cleavage that disrupt homeostatic gene expression in microvascular endothelial cells).

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham explores the impact of trauma on heparan sulfate (HS) modifications and cleavage in microvascular endothelial cells. The study found that trauma leads to HS shedding from the vascular endothelial glycocalyx (eGC), which disrupts blood vessel homeostasis. The researchers also discovered that trauma increases heparanase activity, the enzyme responsible for HS shedding, and that HS levels are elevated in proportion to the severity of the injury. These findings suggest that HS cleavage associated with eGC injury may disrupt endothelial cell signaling and influence mechanisms governing eGC repair. Further research is needed to validate these results in larger trauma populations. [Extracted from the article]