Assistant Professor University of Guelph Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Abstract:
Background: The endothelial glycocalyx (EG) regulates vascular permeability, provides anti-coagulant and anti-adhesive effects on the surface of endothelial cells, and can shield endothelial cells from oxidative stress. Pathological injury to the glycocalyx occurs in ischemia–reperfusion, inflammation, sepsis, and shock.
Objective: Determine the blood concentrations of EG degradation markers in healthy, sick-non septic (SNS) and septic foals. Animals: 15 healthy, 13 SNS and 33 septic foals. Sick foals were further divided into 34 survivors and 11 nonsurvivors.
Methods: Prospective case control study. Plasma heparan sulfate (HS), syndecan-1 (Syn-1), and Angiopoeitin-2 (Ang-2) concentrations were determined on admission and compared among groups.
Results: Plasma HS concentration was significantly higher in septic (n=33, median: 48 ng/ml, range: 43–55) than healthy (n=15; 37 ng/ml, 19–49] foals (P=0.02). Ang-2 concentration was also higher in septic (n=19; 1110 pg/ml, 792–1388) than healthy (n=8; 810 pg/ml, 392–520) foals (P=0.04). No differences in plasma Syn-1 concentrations were identified among healthy, SNS and septic foals, but Syn-1 was higher in non-surviving (n=11; 22 ng/ml, 9.5–28) than surviving (n=34; 48 ng/ml, 43–55) foals (P=0.026). No other differences were present between surviving and non-surviving foals. A significant correlation between HS and Syn-1 was identified (r=0.54, P< 0.0001).
Conclusions: Foals with sepsis had glycocalyx injury and endothelial activation biomarkers. EG degradation markers are associated with the outcome of survival in sick foals. Investigation on the pathophysiological importance of EG degradation in septic foals and the impact of therapies aiming to preserve EG integrity are warranted.
