Hyperglycemia Damages the Endothelial Glycocalyx: Implications for The Blood Brain Barrier | Biomedgrid

The glycocalyx is a matrix of proteoglycans, glycoproteins, glycosaminoglycans, glycolipids and soluble proteins that coats the endothelial cells, together with the endothelium, the astrocyte end feet and basement membrane, contributes to the blood brain barrier, which prevents large molecules, neurotoxins, inflammatory factors and pathogens into the brain. It has been demonstrated that hyperglycemia results in damage to the glycocalyx through mechanisms that are still being elucidated. This means that the brain may be exposed to harmful agents that can cause multiple diseases. More studies are therefore needed to understand and prevent brain disease due to hyperglycemia.