Heparan sulfate in the developing, healthy, and injured lung

SM Haeger, Y Yang, EP Schmidt - American journal of respiratory …, 2016 - atsjournals.org
SM Haeger, Y Yang, EP Schmidt
American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology, 2016atsjournals.org
Remarkable progress has been achieved in understanding the regulation of gene
expression and protein translation, and how aberrancies in these template-driven processes
contribute to disease pathogenesis. However, much of cellular physiology is controlled by
non-DNA, nonprotein mediators, such as glycans. The focus of this Translational Review is
to highlight the importance of a specific glycan polymer—the glycosaminoglycan heparan
sulfate (HS)—on lung health and disease. We demonstrate how HS contributes to lung …
Remarkable progress has been achieved in understanding the regulation of gene expression and protein translation, and how aberrancies in these template-driven processes contribute to disease pathogenesis. However, much of cellular physiology is controlled by non-DNA, nonprotein mediators, such as glycans. The focus of this Translational Review is to highlight the importance of a specific glycan polymer—the glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate (HS)—on lung health and disease. We demonstrate how HS contributes to lung physiology and pathophysiology via its actions as both a structural constituent of the lung parenchyma as well as a regulator of cellular signaling. By highlighting current uncertainties in HS biology, we identify opportunities for future high-impact pulmonary and critical care translational investigations.
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