# Single-cell analysis of endothelial mechanotransduction mediated by endothelial surface glycocalyx

> **NIH NIH R21** · LEHIGH UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $184,341

## Abstract

Endothelial surface glycocalyx (ESG) is a carbohydrate-rich layer found on vascular endothelium. ESG is
composed of membrane glycoproteins, glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans, forming a bulky, matrix-like
structure that serves critical functions in mechanotransduction of blood flow, maintenance of the endothelial
permeability, and the control of leukocyte adhesion and inflammation. One of the most important normal
physiological functions of ESG is to mediate mechanotransduction that leads to the intake of calcium ions and
the production of Nitric Oxide (NO) in response to blood flow. Dysfunctional ESG mechanotransduction has been
found in cardiovascular diseases such as sepsis, ischemia-reperfusion, hypertension, and diabetes. While the
critical involvement of ESG in cardiovascular diseases has been established, its biomechanical properties, as
well as the mechanisms underlying its normal mechanotransduction, have resisted elucidation. This lack of
progress is due in large part to the fact that mechanical forces and responses that occur at the molecular and
sub-cellular levels are transient, minute and therefore difficult to trace and measure. The goal of the current
proposal is to develop new research tools and model systems, and use them to uncover the biomechanical and
mechanotranduction properties of ESG. We will characterize mechanisms underlying ESG-mediated
mechanotransduction on a single-cell level using a novel Atomic Force microscopy (AFM)-fluorescence
microscopy approach. The proposed study will achieve a clearer understanding of ESG-mediated
mechanotransductory function, with important implications for ESG-related diseases, such as sepsis,
ischemiareperfusion, diabetes and hypertension, and their therapeutics.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9957376
- **Project number:** 1R21HL152348-01
- **Recipient organization:** LEHIGH UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Xiaohui Frank Zhang
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $184,341
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-05-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9957376

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9957376, Single-cell analysis of endothelial mechanotransduction mediated by endothelial surface glycocalyx (1R21HL152348-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9957376. Licensed CC0.

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