Endothelial glycocalyx is the luminal layer of blood vessels which grows on the walls of blood vessels. It is very thin and can only be seen by using certain techniques. It has several functions, such as to regulate vascular permeability, regulate the interaction of blood cells and endothelial cells, as well as to regulate the endothelial environment. Under certain condition, endothelial glycocalyx can be shedded, and the components will enter the plasma. This shedding can disrupt the function of endothelial glycocalyx, and it also has a strong relation with the progress of a disease, where the severity of the damage on endothelial glycocalyx signifies the severity of the disease. Therefore, therapies which can maintain and repair endothelial glycocalyx have been developed. This journal will describe the structure, function, damage and therapy of endothelial glycocalyx layer in detail.

Endothelial glycocalyx