Syndecan-1 (SDC-1), the core protein in heparan sulfate proteoglycan, is found in the endothelial glycocalyx and shed into the blood in various systemic inflammatory conditions, including trauma (7, 8), sepsis (9), acute respiratory distress syndrome (10), acute kidney injury (11) and cardiovascular disease (12, 13). The gene discussed is SDC1; the disease is acute kidney injury.