Table 1 Functions of the glycocalyx

Forms the interface between the vessel wall and the bloodstream

Reitsma et al. 2007 [5]

Alphonsus and Rodseth 2014 [10]

Maintains the colloid osmotic gradient of the vascular barrier

Rehm et al. 2007 [12]

Acts as a barrier to:

 vascular exchange of water and solutes

Reitsma et al. 2007 [5]

 leukocyte–endothelium adhesion

Henry and Duling 1999 [13]

Lipowsky et al. 2011 [14]

Constantinescu et al. 2003 [15]

Becker et al. 2015 [19]

Acts as a sieve for plasma proteins

Vink and Duling 2000 [16]

Lipowsky et al. 2011 [14]

Provides binding sites for everal molecules, including:

 antithrombin III

Alphonsus and Rodseth 2014 [10]

 tissue factor pathway inhibitors

Reitsma et al. 2007 [5]

 lipoprotein lipase

Kolářová et al. 2014 [18]

 vascular endothelial growth factor

 fibroblast growth factor

 extracellular superoxide dismutase

 hyaluronic acid molecules

Acts as a shear stress sensor and regulator of mechanotransduction

Reitsma et al. 2007 [5]

Florian et al. 2003 [17]

Yen et al. 2014 [20]

Becker et al. 2015 [19]