A groundbreaking translational study by Schmidt et al. provided compelling evidence that prevention of heparanase-mediated degradation of the pulmonary endothelial glycocalyx—by blocking heparanase via a non-coagulant heparin fragment—is sufficient to eliminate vascular hyperpermeability and ARDS in murine endotoxemia [36]. This evidence concerns the gene HPSE and acute respiratory distress syndrome.