Your entire vascular system is lined with a hair-like, gel-rich layer called the endothelial glycocalyx. The glycocalyx is a critical protective barrier between the blood and the vessel wall. Damage to, or dysfunction of the endothelial glycocalyx can lead to hypertension, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
A clear understanding of the glycocalyx gives you a much clearer concept of what causes atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Stephen Parcell is a naturopathic doctor with extensive expertise in preventive cardiology and integrative medicine. In this presentation he gives you a clear mechanistic understanding of the role of the glycocalyx in normal vascular function. He then shows you which factors disrupt its function and how these lead to vascular disease.
Glycocalyx damage causes vessel dysfunction through several mechanisms:
1. Increased Vascular Permeability: Glycocalyx degradation allows for increased lipid flux into the vessel wall, promoting lipid deposition
2. Enhanced Inflammation and oxidation: Damaged glycocalyx enables increased interactions between endothelial cells and inflammatory cells, facilitating their migration into the vessel wall
3. Impaired Mechanotransduction: Glycocalyx dysfunction alters the ability of endothelial cells to sense and respond to shear stress
4. Reduced Nitric Oxide Production: Glycocalyx degradation causes endothelial cells to decrease expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase
5. Platelet Adhesion: A compromised glycocalyx exposes underlying endothelial cell adhesion molecules, increasing platelet adhesion and potential thrombus formation
Learn how foundational this tissue is and gain a new perspective on vascular health.
