临床与实验心脏病学
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Targets of Heparin Anti-Inflammatory Activity.Therapeutics Beyond Coagulation

Francesc Cabrè*, Martín Ballarín

Heparin is one of the drugs used for almost 100 years as anticoagulant and antithrombotic. Structurally is a polysaccharide of natural origin whose anticoagulant activity is mainly due to a fragment of five monosaccharides that enhances the activity of antithrombin, the main inhibitor of the coagulation cascade. Effects, other than anticoagulation, attributable to heparin have recently been described, particularly a relevant anti-inflammatory activity. Although the molecular and cellular interactions of heparin linked to its anti-inflammatory effect are not completely defined, some mediators and cells related to both coagulation and inflammation processes on which heparin can act are known. This brief review describes some of the elements involved in inflammatory processes, whose expression and regulation could be modulated by heparin and therefore be new targets for the design and development of potential anti-inflammatory drugs.