Hyaluronan (HA) (HA)

Hyaluronan (HA) is a high-molecular-weight, non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan that serves as a fundamental structural component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) (PubMed, PMID: 30205510). It is synthesized by hyaluronan synthases (HAS1-3) at the plasma membrane and plays a vital role in maintaining tissue hydration, lubrication, and mechanical integrity (NCBI, NBK279354). HA acts as a ligand for receptors like CD44 and RHAMM, triggering signaling pathways that govern cell proliferation, migration, and wound healing (Nature Reviews Cancer, 2019). In pathological states, particularly in desmoplastic tumors like pancreatic cancer, HA accumulation leads to elevated interstitial fluid pressure, which impairs vascular perfusion and limits the efficacy of systemic therapies (Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2020). Therapeutic interventions include the use of hyaluronidases to degrade the ECM barrier and improve drug penetration or the administration of exogenous HA for the treatment of osteoarthritis (StatPearls, 2023).

Other names

Hyaluronic acidHyaluronateNonsulfated glycosaminoglycan

Enzymatic degradation of hyaluronan to reduce interstitial fluid pressure and enhance drug delivery (PubMed, PMID: 29610301); inhibition of hyaluronan synthases to prevent pathological accumulation; supplementation of high-molecular-weight hyaluronan to restore joint lubrication (StatPearls, 2023).