title: HA metabolism in skin homeostasis and inflammatory disease.
abstract: Hyaluronan (HA), an unsulfated glycosaminoglycan, is an important component of the complex extracellular matrix network which surrounds and supports cells in tissues. HA is detected in all vertebrate tissues, but the bulk of HA is produced and deposited in the skin. In this review we focus on the role of HA in skin-associated inflammatory disease and wound healing. Properties of HA are directly dependent on its molecular weight. Thus, high molecular weight HA (HMWHA) is deposited in normal tissues during homeostasis and promotes their stability whereas low molecular weight HA fragments (LMWHA), on the other hand, may arise from enzymatic or chemical activities. The degradation of HMWHA to LMWHA fragments, often leads to the generation of biologically active oligosaccharides with different properties and postulated functions in wound scar formation and inflammation. More detailed studies of HA involvement in skin-associated inflammatory disease may result in novel treatment modalities.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Rafaela-Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kavasi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berdiaki
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Spyridaki
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, DiSFeB, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corsini
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Aristidis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsatsakis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tzanakakis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece. Electronic address: nikitovic@uoc.gr.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nikitovic
mesh_terms: D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D006820:Hyaluronic Acid
keywords: Damage associated molecular pattern (DAMP); Hyaluronan; Inflammation; Keratinocytes; Skin; Toll like receptor (TLR); Wound healing