An Overview of Glycosylation and its Impact on Cardiovascular Health and Disease.

The cardiovascular system is a complex and well-organized system in which glycosylation plays a vital role. The heart and vascular wall cells are constituted by an array of specific receptors; most of them are glycosylated and mucin-type glycosylated. There are also intracellular signaling pathways regulated by different post-translational modifications, including GlcNAcylation, which promote adequate responses to extracellular stimuli and signaling transduction.