THERAPEUTIC USES OF HEPARIN BEYOND ITS TRADITIONAL ROLE AS AN ANTICOAGULANT

A number of physiological effects have been ascribed to heparin since its discovery almost 80 years ago, many of which are independent from its first-described and best-characterized activity as an anticoagulan t. Heparin and heparan sulphate are believed to possess many biologica l activities that include the ability to modulate embryonic developmen t, neurite outgrowth, tissue homeostasis, wound healing, metastasis, c ell differentation, cell proliferation and inflammation. In this revie w, David Tyrrell, Stephen Kilfeather and Clive Page examine some of th e activities of heparin (and heparin derivatives) beyond its effects a s an anticoagulant, and discuss the therapeutic potential of this old, but certainly not antiquated, drug.