An Overview of Clinical Studies on Endocan andCardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Endothelial dysfunction is a catastrophic condition caused by disruption of the equilibrium between vasodilatation and vaso constriction. Endocan is a proteoglycan derived from vascular endothelium. Endocan can interact with biologically active mol ecules, and these active molecules are essential for the balance of many biological functions, including cell adhesion, migration,proliferation, and new blood vessel formation. Increased endocan levels cause atherosclerosis in hypertension and coronaryartery disease. We aimed to present a review of the biological functions of the endocan and the prevention of atherosclerosis.