The Effects of the Endothelial Glycocalyx on Blood Flow

The glycocalyx is an essential biological component in humans. It is a thin layer of anionic material that lines endothelial cells and is composed of proteoglycans and glycoproteins. The glycocalyx also contains soluble glycosaminoglycans from the bloodstream and endothelium. The various components are significant in glycocalyx’s role in the body and therefore any enzymatic removal of any of its constituents dramatically affects its properties. The glycocalyx influences blood cell-vessel wall interactions by repulsing red blood cells. It is also considered a potential translator of biochemical forces into biochemical signals. Although it is well-known that this layer affects blood flow in the human body, our experiment strives to discover which components of the glycocalyx affects flow in the endothelium. To do this, we noted the flow of blood in various conditions and noted any significant changes in the regulations of genes that occur as the flow of blood changed from either static to laminar or in the presence/absence of Kir 2.1, a potassium channel. This allowed us to identify what specific proteins, and therefore genes, in the endothelial glycocalyx contribute to blood flow