Sphingosine 1-phosphate induced synthesis of glycocalyx on endothelial cells

•S1P not only protects the glycocalyx from shedding, but also promotes its recovery.•S1P induced recovery of syndecan-1 with attached HS and CS.•The effect of S1P on recovery of glycocalyx is mediated by PI3K pathway.•The maintaining of stability of glycocalyx by S1P is a complex dynamic process.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) protects glycocalyx against shedding, playing important roles in endothelial functions. We previously found that glycocalyx on endothelial cells (ECs) was shed after plasma protein depletion. In the present study, we investigated the role of S1P on the recovery of glycocalyx, and tested whether it is mediated by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. After depletion of plasma protein, ECs were treated with S1P for another 6 h. And then, the major components of glycocalyx including syndecan-1 with attached heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) on endothelial cells were detected using confocal fluorescence microscopy. Role of PI3K in the S1P-induced synthesis of glycocalyx was confirmed by using the PI3K inhibitor (LY294002). Syndecan-1 with attached HS and CS were degraded with duration of plasma protein depletion. S1P induced recovery of syndecan-1 with attached HS and CS. The PI3K inhibitor LY294002 abolished the effect of S1P on recovery of glycocalyx. Thus, S1P induced synthesis of glycocalyx on endothelial cells and it is mediated by PI3K pathway.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (254 K)Download as PowerPoint slide