However, aside from their effects on anticoagulation, the heparins appear to have pleiotropic effects that may provide unique advantages in the context of viral infection, including anti-inflammatory effects by way of their ability to bind to danger-associated molecular patterns, such as HMGB-1, and proinflammatory cytokines.140,141 Unfractionated heparin has a similar structure as heparan sulfate, the sulfated polysaccharide present on cell surfaces and extracellular matrix, with repeating disaccharide units.