Endothelial glycosylation and its emerging role in pulmonary vascular health and disease

Pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) encompasses a group of conditions that impact the blood vessels in the lungs. Endothelial cells, which line blood vessels, bear a conspicuous layer of glycosylated molecules that project into the vascular lumen. Recent findings support a role for endothelial cell glycosylation in the development and progression of PVD. However, glycosylation remains a critically understudied aspect of pulmonary vascular health and disease. Here, we provide an overview of the functional role of endothelial cell glycosylation, present evidence of the involvement of glycosylation in PVD, and outline gaps in knowledge regarding the role of glycosylation within the pulmonary vasculature, to provide a foundation for future research efforts focused on advancing glycosylation pathway-targeted treatments for pulmonary vascular disease.