Yang Yimu, Schmidt Eric P
Program in Translational Lung Research, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.
Tissue Barriers. 2013 Jan 1;1(1). doi: 10.4161/tisb.23494.
Once thought to be a structure of small size and uncertain significance, the endothelial glycocalyx is now known to be an important regulator of endothelial function. Studies of the systemic vasculature have demonstrated that the glycocalyx forms a substantial endothelial surface layer (ESL) critical to inflammation, barrier function, and mechanotransduction. The pulmonary ESL is significantly thicker than the systemic ESL, suggesting unique physiologic function. We have recently demonstrated that the pulmonary ESL regulates exposure of endothelial surface adhesion molecules, thereby serving as a barrier to neutrophil adhesion and extravasation. While the pulmonary ESL is not a critical structural component of the endothelial barrier to fluid and protein, it serves a major role in the mechanotransduction of vascular pressure, with impact on the active regulation of endothelial permeability. It is likely that the ESL serves numerous additional functions in vascular physiology, representing a fertile area for future investigation.
内皮糖萼曾被认为是一种尺寸小且意义不明的结构，如今已知它是内皮功能的重要调节因子。对全身血管系统的研究表明，糖萼形成了一个对炎症、屏障功能和机械转导至关重要的实质性内皮表面层（ESL）。肺ESL明显比全身ESL厚，提示其具有独特的生理功能。我们最近证明，肺ESL调节内皮表面黏附分子的暴露，从而作为中性粒细胞黏附和渗出的屏障。虽然肺ESL不是内皮对液体和蛋白质屏障的关键结构成分，但它在血管压力的机械转导中起主要作用，对内皮通透性的主动调节有影响。ESL很可能在血管生理学中还有许多其他功能，这是未来研究的一个丰富领域。
