title: Hyaluronidase 3 (HYAL3) knockout mice do not display evidence of hyaluronan accumulation.
abstract: Hyaluronidases are endoglycosidases that initiate the breakdown of hyaluronan (HA), an abundant component of the vertebrate extracellular matrix. In humans, six paralogous genes encoding hyaluronidase-like sequences have been identified on human chromosomes 3p21.3 (HYAL2-HYAL1-HYAL3) and 7q31.3 (SPAM1-HYAL4-HYALP1). Mutations in one of these genes, HYAL1, were reported in a patient with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) IX. Despite the broad distribution of HA, the HYAL1-deficient patient exhibited a mild phenotype, suggesting other hyaluronidase family members contribute to constitutive HA degradation. Hyal3 knockout (Hyal3-/-) mice were generated to determine if HYAL3 had a role in constitutive HA degradation. Hyal3-/- mice were viable, fertile, and exhibited no gross phenotypic changes. X-ray analysis, histological studies of joints, whole-body weights, organ weights and the serum HA levels of Hyal3-/- mice were normal. No evidence of glycosaminoglycan accumulation, including vacuolization, was identified in the Hyal3-/- tissues analyzed. Remarkably, the only difference identified in Hyal3-/- mice was a subtle change in the alveolar structure and extracellular matrix thickness in lung-tissue sections at 12-14 months-of-age. We conclude that HYAL3 does not play a major role in constitutive HA degradation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, The University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
authors.forename: Vasantha
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authors.lastname: Atmuri
authors.forename: Dianna C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Richard
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authors.lastname: Gutsol
authors.forename: Sharon
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authors.forename: Solmaz
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authors.lastname: Sahebjam
authors.forename: James A
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authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Mort
authors.forename: Euridice
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authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.forename: Judy E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Shyamala
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dakshinamurti
authors.forename: Barbara
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authors.lastname: Triggs-Raine