Heparan sulfate potentiates leukocyte adhesion on cardiac fibroblast by enhancing Vcam-1 and Icam-1 expression

These data show the dual role of HS during the initial stages of wound healing. Initially, HS enhance the pro-inflammatory role of CF increasing cytokines secretion; and later, by increasing protein adhesion molecules allows the adhesion of SMC on CF, which trigger CF-to-CMF differentiation.