The membrane of most cells in the body is surrounded by a dynamically regulated, highly-
hydrated fibrous meshwork of carbohydrates, known as pericellular matrix or glycocalyx. Its
main constituents are several glycoconjugates (see nomenclature and definitions in Box 1),
including glycolipids, the polysaccharide heparan sulfate (HS) linked to proteoglycan core
proteins (eg glypican, syndecan, betaglycan), the polysaccharide hyaluronan and proteins
bound to these polysaccharides.