The advancements of heparanase in fibrosis

Fibrosis is the endpoint in many chronic inflammatory diseases and is defined as an abnormal accumulation of extracellular matrix components. Fibrosis can affect almost any tissue, especially heart, lung, liver, and kidney, and numerous studies have been conducted to find satisfactory treatments. Since heparanase is a kind of endo-β-D-glucuronidase that is capable of cleaving heparan sulfate side chains of heparan sulfate proteoglycans on cell surfaces and the extracellular matrix, which further regulate the bioavailability of growth factors (FGF-2, TGF-β). Meanwhile, FGF-2 and TGF-β play a major role in the fibrosis process. Recent studies including ours have consistently demonstrated that heparanase could promote fibrosis process in different organs. Thus in this mini-review, we updated the advancement of heparanase in the regulation of fibrosis generation, and discussed its impact on several critical signaling pathways relevant to fibrosis.