[Hyaluronic acid and immunity].
Hyaluronic acid (HA), one of the main components of extra-cellular matrix and most notably of the fundamental substance of conjunctive tissues, is not an inert structure. Conversely, it displays important biological properties and plays a significant role in crucial physiological processes especially when cellular plasticity is involved such as inflammation, immune reactions, angiogenesis and would healing. It is also strongly involved in neoplastic cells migration and therefore in metastatic spreading of malignant tumours. These varied physiological functions are related either to interactions with specific or less specific cellular membrane receptors or to the production of HA fragments of different sizes, generated for example by local traumatism or inflammation, fragments displaying specific properties according to their size.
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Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital St-Eloi, 80 avenue A Fliche, 34295 Montpellier cedex 5, France. o-demeure@chu-montpellier.fr
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D002465:Cell Movement; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000276:immunology; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D007109:Immunity; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000276:immunology; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000276:immunology*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid