Intracellular hyaluronan: a new frontier for inflammation?

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2004 Jul 6;1673(1-2):3-12. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2004.02.013.

Abstract

A variety of obstacles have hindered the ultrastructural localization of hyaluronan (HA). These include a lack of adequate fixation techniques to prevent the loss of HA, the lack of highly sensitive and specific probes, and a lack of accessibility due to the masking of HA by HA-binding macromolecules such as proteoglycans and glycoproteins. Despite these problems, a number of studies, both biochemical and histochemical, have been published indicating that HA is not restricted to the extracellular milieu, but is also present intracellularly. This review focuses on the possible functions of intracellular HA, its potential relationships to extracellular HA structures, and implications for inflammatory processes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / enzymology
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / enzymology
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Colitis / metabolism
  • Cycloheximide
  • Diabetic Nephropathies / metabolism
  • Glucuronosyltransferase
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / analysis
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / chemistry
  • Hyaluronan Synthases
  • Hyaluronic Acid / analysis
  • Hyaluronic Acid / biosynthesis
  • Hyaluronic Acid / chemistry
  • Hyaluronic Acid / metabolism*
  • Inflammation / metabolism*
  • Intracellular Membranes / enzymology
  • Intracellular Membranes / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Mitosis
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Muscle Cells / metabolism
  • Muscle, Smooth / cytology
  • Muscle, Smooth / metabolism*
  • Poly I-C
  • Transferases / metabolism

Substances

  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • Hyaluronic Acid
  • Cycloheximide
  • Transferases
  • Glucuronosyltransferase
  • Hyaluronan Synthases
  • Poly I-C