ROLE OF HEPARAN-SULFATE IN IMMUNE-SYSTEM BLOOD-VESSEL INTERACTIONS

Heparan sulfate proteoglycan, a component of endothelial cell membrane s and extracellular matrices, is involved in a number of the critical functions of endothelium and of antigen-presenting cells. This review discusses bow heparan sulfate is released from endothelial cells durin g inflammation, how the loss of heparan sulfate potentially alters end othelial cell physiology, and bow the presence of heparan sulfate in a soluble form might regulate the functioning of lymphocytes at sites o f inflammation.