Glycocalyx, composed of glycoproteins including proteoglycans, coats the luminal surface of
the glomerular capillaries. Human heparanase degrades heparan sulphate
glycosaminoglycans and is up-regulated in proteinuric states. In this study, we analyze the
structure of the human glomerular endothelial cell glycocalyx in vitro and examine its
functional relevance, especially after treatment with human heparanase. Electron
microscopy of conditionally immortalized glomerular endothelial cells revealed a 200-nm …