The Role of Heparan Sulfate in Bone Repair and Regeneration.

Heparan sulfate (HS) is synthesized in majority of cells in the human body and is typically released as an extension of polysaccharide chains, which then covalently bind to the protein core of proteoglycans to form heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG). Research has shown that HS plays a crucial role in various cellular pathways of bone repair and regeneration and this review aims to summarize the role of HS in the above process. We found that the specific role of HS in bone repair and regeneration may depend on its location by analyzing the published research. Compared to cell surface HS, research on extracellular matrix (ECM) HS is limited. The current research suggests that HS can prevent the formation of blood clots after bone fracture and has a dual role in inflammation. ECM HS promotes soft callus formation and mineralization, while cell surface HS has inhibitory effects.