Heparanase 2 Modulates Vascular Permeability via Heparan Sulfate-Dependent Growth Factor Signaling.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Vessel-lining endothelial cells (ECs) rely on heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans to regulate vascular permeability and to maintain vascular homeostasis. Hpa2 (heparanase 2) is a little-known, nonenzymatic, HS-binding protein. We hypothesized major functions and thus characterized the role of endogenous Hpa2 in the vertebrate vascular system.

Methods

We use zebrafish larvae as our primary animal model. Hpa2 loss-of-function (LOF) was induced by CRISPR-Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated 9) and morpholino antisense strategies. We assessed vascular permeability, blood vessel architecture, and EC morphology using transgenic zebrafish and transmission electron microscopy. rH

SUBMITTER: Becker Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12685291 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature