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. 2019 Apr 23;12(5):611-619.
doi: 10.1093/ckj/sfz042. eCollection 2019 Oct.

The role of endothelial glycocalyx in health and disease

Onur Yilmaz  1 , Baris Afsar  2 , Alberto Ortiz  3 , Mehmet Kanbay  4
Affiliations

The role of endothelial glycocalyx in health and disease

Onur Yilmaz et al. Clin Kidney J. .

Abstract

The endothelium is the largest organ in the body and recent studies have shown that the endothelial glycocalyx (eGCX) plays a major role in health and disease states. The integrity of eGCX is vital for homoeostasis and disruption of its structure and function plays a major role in several pathologic conditions. An increased understanding of the numerous pathophysiological roles of eGCX may lead to the development of potential surrogate markers for endothelial injury or novel therapeutic targets. This review provides a state-of-the-art update on the structure and function of the eGCX, emphasizing the current understanding of interorgan crosstalk between the eGCX and other organs that might also contribute to the pathogenesis of kidney diseases.

Keywords: chronic kidney disease; diabetes mellitus; endothelial glycocalyx.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Structure and functions of eGCX in physiological and pathological conditions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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