FIGURE 2.

Glycocalyx Degradation. The endothelial glycocalyx is degraded by proteases [which remove core proteins’ ectodomains: syndecans (yellow), glipicans (orange) and CD44 (red)], GAG-degrading enzymes and ROS, leaving free fragments of HA (red dotted), HS (blue dotted) and CS (purple dashed). This exposes cellular adhesion molecules (black) on the endothelial surface, allowing easier binding of white blood cells [e.g., neutrophils (PMNs)] and platelets. Neutrophils can release additional proteases, further damaging core glycocalyx proteins, junctional proteins (blue) and produce additional ROS. With a degraded glycocalyx, blood flows closer to the endothelial cells and plasma proteins (green), can access the endothelial surface.