Heparanase induces a differential loss of heparan sulphate domains in overt diabetic nephropathy

Aims/hypothesis Recent studies suggest that loss of heparan sulphate in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) of the kidney with diabetic nephropathy is due to the increased production of heparanase, a heparan sulphate-degrading endoglycosidase. Our present study addresses whether heparan sulphate with different modifications is differentially reduced in the GBM and whether heparanase selectively cleaves heparan sulphate with different domain specificities.