Heparin-like glycosaminoglycans inhibit leukocyte adhesion to endotoxin-activated human vascular endothelial cells under nonstatic conditions

Since heparin-like glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) have been reported to possess anti-inflammatory effects, we tested effects of heparin-like GAGs on cell adhesion between endothelial cells (ECs) and leukocytes. Effects of heparin-like GAGs on adhesion molecule expression and leukocyte adhesion were analyzed using cultured human umbilical vein ECs stimulated by endotoxin. Expression of adhesion molecules on ECs was unchanged, but adherence of leukocytes to ECs was significantly reduced by heparin-like GAGs under nonstatic conditions. These results suggest that heparin-like GAGs may act as anti-inflammatory agents partly by inhibition of leukocyte adherence to stimulated ECs under nonstatic conditions and may prevent critical conditions caused by endotoxin.