Live Cell Confocal Microscopy for Real-Time Imaging of Endothelial Glycocalyx Damage and Repair

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Dysregulation of microvascular function contributes to the pathophysiology of indirect organ injury after trauma. In particular, damage to the endothelial glycocalyx occurs within minutes of traumatic injury and is associated with increased microvascular permeability resulting in organ failure and increased mortality. Strategies that attenuate glycocalyx disintegrity by preventing its cleavage and/or facilitating its repair hold significant promise for minimizing microvascular dysfunction and post-traumatic organ injury. Thus, the overall objective of the proposed work is to establish a basic science and translational research program focused on the identification of novel therapeutic targets that will (1) prevent glycocalyx damage, (2) repair glycocalyx integrity or (3) inhibit dysregulation of endothelial cell permeability that occurs as a result of glycocalyx disintegrity. The specific programmatic areas of focus will include studies to identify the role of heparanase in regulating glycocalyx (dis)integrity after trauma-hemorrhage and on mechanisms that mediate glycocalyx synthesis. Additionally, our proposed studies will identify signaling pathways that regulate endothelial barrier function that are effected by loss of cell surface glycosaminoglycans, heparan sulfate and hyaluronic acid, which are primary constituents of the glycocalyx layer. Our research program will focus on the endothelial cell-specific response to trauma- hemorrhage in organ systems that are most susceptible to secondary injury (e.g., kidney, lung and intestines) with the over-arching goal of determining how resuscitation strategies mediate glycocalyx-dependent mechanisms in each organ. These programmatic areas of research hold promise for significantly impacting the current resuscitation paradigm for trauma patients in hemorrhagic shock by aiding in the discovery of novel therapeutic targets that can be used to inhibit glycocalyx dysfunction, facilitate its repair or reverse the downstream consequences of glycocalyx disintegrity.