Chemokine CXCL4 Interactions with Extracellular Matrix Proteoglycans Mediate Widespread Immune Cell Recruitment Independent of Chemokine Receptors

The authors demonstrated that CXCL4 binds to glycosaminoglycan sugars on proteoglycans within the endothelial extracellular matrix, resulting in increased adhesion of leukocytes to the vasculature, increased vascular permeability, and non-specific recruitment of a range of leukocytes.