Heparinase (HPA) is a β-D
glucuronidase that belongs to the
endoglycosidase enzyme family, and plays an important role in numerous pathological and physiological processes, including
inflammation, angiogenesis and
tumor metastasis. When the expression of HPA is abnormally high, the side chain of
heparin sulfate proteoglycans degrades, destroying the cell barrier and leading to the occurrence and development of
inflammation, with systemic
inflammation occurring in severe cases.
Sepsis is a major cause of mortality in
critically ill patients. In
sepsis, the gastrointestinal tract is the first and most frequently involved target organ, which often leads to gastrointestinal dysfunction. HPA overexpression has been determined to accelerate
sepsis progression and gastrointestinal dysfunction; thus, it was hypothesized that HPA may play an important role and may serve as an index for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal dysfunction in
sepsis. HPA inhibitors may therefore become applicable as targeted drugs for the treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction in patients with
sepsis. The present review mainly discussed the role of HPA in gastrointestinal dysfunction of
sepsis.