The FASEB Journal • Research Communication Heparanase accelerates wound angiogenesis and wound

ABSTRACT Orchestration of the rapid formation and reorganization of new tissue observed in wound healing involves not only cells and polypeptides but also the extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironment. The abil-ity of heparan sulfate (HS) to interact with major compo-nents of the ECM suggests a key role for HS in maintain-ing the structural integrity of the ECM. Heparanase, an endoglycosidase-degrading HS in the ECM and cell sur-face, is involved in the enzymatic machinery that enables cellular invasion and release of HS-bound polypeptides residing in the ECM. Bioavailabilty and activation of multitude mediators capable of promoting cell migration, proliferation, and neovascularization are of particular importance in the complex setting of wound healing. We provide evidence that heparanase is normally expresse