More recent studies have demonstrated a similar mechanism whereby the inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor (TNF) can induce heparinase‐mediated glycocalyx shedding during sepsis.18, 23 This was shown to facilitate recruitment of neutrophils and also induce side effects in the brains of sepsis patients by the GAG‐binding protein brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).24 The gene discussed is BDNF; the disease is Sepsis.