Figure 1.

Biological effects of heparin. Heparin has inhibitory and activating roles in molecular and cellular mechanisms. It has a role in degradation of platelets, inhibition of coagulation, and angiogenesis. It also acts as a heparanase inhibitor and blocks P- and L-selectin to interact with platelets and prevents metastasis. Moreover, it interacts with ECM proteins and enhances remodeling of the ECM. It is involved in inflammatory processes and regulates inflammation. Heparin interacts with integrins and growth factors. However, in some growth factor signaling pathways it may have inhibitory as well as activating effects. For instance, it interacts with factors such as FGF, TGFB1, and MK and regulates the signaling positively. In contrast, it also interacts with FGF and HGF and regulates the signaling negatively (ECM: extracellular matrix; FGF: fibroblast growth factor; and HGF: hepatocyte growth factor.