The role of glycocalyx and oxidative stress in endothelial function

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Project acronym: GlikoOxEND

Project number: 581-UNIOS-80

Principal investigator: prof. dr. sc. Ines Drenjančević
Funding source: European Union – NextGeneration EU
Project duration: 1 October 2025. to 30 September 2029.
Budget: 109.200,00 EUR

Project summary:

Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is a universal pathophysiological process that affects all parts of the vascular system, from large conducting blood vessels to the functionally crucial microcirculation. The endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) layer on the endothelial surface is crucial for microvascular health and in different clinical stages of the disease state. Oxidative stress and inflammation at the microcirculatory level contribute to the development of ED and the progression of numerous damages in various organs and increase the overall cardiovascular (CV) risk. In the Republic of Croatia, CV diseases are the cause of 23% of all premature deaths. CVD is the leading single cause of mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Hypothesis: there is an association between low-level inflammation and oxidative stress with eGC damage, which affects endothelium-dependent microvascular reactivity and clinical parameters of the disease. The primary research goal of the project is to determine the role of eGC in microvascular reactivity in CKD (cross-sectional trial 1) and in patients with coronary disease before and after bypass grafting (observational prospective trial 2). The main goal of the project is to increase the excellence and interdisciplinarity of scientific work at MEFOS by connecting researchers from different scientific fields, improving conditions and resources for scientific work, increasing international cooperation, related to strategic goal 1. Raising scientific excellence. The results of the project could provide pathophysiological insight into the development and maintenance of endothelial dysfunction in CVD and CKD, as well as new biomarkers of CVD and CKD.