AUTHOR=Chen Jinzhi , Jiang Liping , Yu Xiao-Hua , Hu Mi , Zhang Yang-Kai , Liu Xin , He Pingping , Ouyang Xinping 

TITLE=Endocan: A Key Player of Cardiovascular Disease

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2021

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2021.798699

DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2021.798699

ISSN=2297-055X

ABSTRACT=Endothelial dysfunction is considered to be an early change in atherosclerosis. Endocan, also known as endothelial cell specific molecule-1, is a soluble proteoglycan mainly secreted by endothelial cells. Pro-inflammatory cytokines can up-regulate the expression of endocan, which in turn affects cell adhesion molecules and plays an important role in regulating cell adhesion. Elevated plasma levels of endocan may reflect endothelial activation and dysfunction, and is considered to be a potential immuno-inflammatory marker that may be related to cardiovascular disease. In the case of hypertension, diabetes, angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction, the increase or decrease of serum endocan levels is of great significance. Here, we reviewed the current research on endocan with an emphasis on its possible clinical value as a prognostic marker of cardiovascular disease.