Advances in Heparan Sulfate Biology: Protein Interactions and Therapeutic Implications
A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Cell Biology and Pathology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 728
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Heparan sulfate (HS), an abundant glycosaminoglycan on cell surfaces and the extracellular matrix, exhibits critical regulatory roles for numerous proteins involved in vital biological processes. HS exerts its biological functions by interacting with hundreds of HS-binding proteins, including growth factors, chemokines, cytokines, coagulation factors, enzymes, matrix proteins, etc. The diverse interactions between HS and proteins modulate activities ranging from developmental signaling to homeostatic mechanisms such as coagulation, angiogenesis, bone remodeling, and host defense. Given the importance of HS–protein interactions, targeting these molecular interfaces has recently emerged as a focal point of research with potential therapeutic implications. Current investigative strategies involve the development of specific antibodies and HS oligosaccharide mimetics designed to modulate HS–protein binding, thereby offering opportunities for innovative therapeutic approaches. Additionally, certain natural sulfated carbohydrates, such as those derived from seaweeds and marine organisms that possess a negative charge, may function similarly to heparan sulfate oligosaccharides in this context. This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest advances in our understanding of HS biology, the molecular basis of HS–protein interactions, and the translational potential of targeting these interactions for various pathological conditions.
Dr. Miaomiao Li
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- heparan sulfate
- heparin
- heparanase
- heparan sulfate-binding protein
- heparan sulfate oligosaccharides
- antibody
- natural sulfated carbohydrates
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