Abstract
Heparan sulfate is a glycosaminoglycan present in nearly all mammalian tissues. Heparan
sulfate moieties are attached to the cell surface via heparan sulfate proteoglycans
(HSPGs) which are composed of a protein core bound to multiple heparan sulfate chains.
HSPGs contribute to the structural integrity of the extracellular matrix and participate
in cell signaling by releasing bound cytokines and chemokines once cleaved by an enzyme,
heparanase. HSPGs are often exploited by viruses during infection, particularly during
attachment and egress. Loss or inhibition of HSPGs initially during infection can
yield significant decreases in viral entry and infectivity. In this review, we provide
an overview of HSPGs in the lifecycle of multiple viruses, including herpesviruses,
human immunodeficiency virus, dengue virus, human papillomavirus, and coronaviruses.
Keywords
heparan sulfate - heparan sulfate proteoglycan - heparanase - herpesvirus - coronavirus