The syndecan family of transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans is abundant on the
surface of all adherent mammalian cells. Syndecans bind and modify the action of various
growth factors/cytokines, proteases/antiproteases, cell adhesion molecules, and
extracellular matrix components. Syndecan expression is highly regulated during wound
repair, a process orchestrated by many of these effectors. Each syndecan ectodomain is
shed constitutively by cultured cells, but the mechanism and significance of this shedding …