The researchers found that leukocytes develop changes in their heparan sulfate-rich glycocalyx during inflammatory responses, influencing how immune cells migrate into tissues and interact with vascular surfaces. In psoriasis models, disruption of this glycocalyx structure appeared to promote inflammatory signalling and immune-cell infiltration within the skin. 

According to the authors, restoring aspects of glycocalyx function reduced inflammatory activity and improved psoriasis-like skin changes in experimental models, suggesting the glycocalyx may represent a potential therapeutic target in chronic inflammatory skin disease. 

The glycocalyx is a carbohydrate-rich surface layer involved in cell signalling and mechanobiology, but its role in immune-cell behaviour has been less well understood. The findings contribute to growing evidence that extracellular surface biology plays an important role in inflammatory regulation and tissue homeostasis.