Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is a biopolymer composed of repeating units of disaccharides with various applications. Hyaluronic acid is a major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Hyaluronic acid is synthesized at the plasma membrane. Increased hyaluronic acid levels are associated with tumor cell growth, adhesion, migration, invasion and angiogenesis in digestive cancers. Hyaluronic acid participates in tissue remodeling and rapid cell proliferation in some physiological processes including embryonic morphogenesis and wound-healing. Hyaluronic acid activates the PI3K-Akt signaling. Hyaluronic acid acts as a regulator of cancer-associated lymphangiogenesis. Hyaluronic acid also enhances cell invasion and angiogenesis by promoting proteolytic MMP-9 binding to cell surface or stimulating MMP-9 binding to cell surface. Hyaluronic acid can be used as drug delivery for sodium butyrate to improve the anti-proliferative activity on breast cancer cell line. Hyaluronic acid can be studied in joint diseases, wound healing and cancer^{[1][2][3][4][5]}. In Vitro:Hyaluronic acid (HA) is widely used in aesthetic medicine due to its binding ability with a large number of water molecules. It improves tissue hydration and their resistance to mechanical damage. HA plays an important role in wound healing, ovulation, fertilization, signal transduction, and tumor physiology. HA is used in joint diseases such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. HA of a high molecular mass reduces the chemotaxis and migration of inflammatory cells which acts as a good barrier to the inflammatory process and protects against the effects of free radicals. HA is used in ophthalmology due to its lubricating properties for the corneal endothelium, and improves tissue hydration and cellular resistance to mechanical damage in aesthetic dermatology, and has marginal adverse effects. Several trials indicate its role in tumor markers, liver diseases, and in pharmaceuticals^[1]. Hyaluronan plays an important role in cancer growth and metastasis. HA and HA fragment-tumor cell interaction could activate the downstream signaling pathways, promoting cell proliferation, adhesion, migration and invasion, and inducing angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, stem cell-like property, and chemoradioresistance in digestive cancers^[2]. In Vivo:The impact of applied intra-articular HA has been proven in many studies in animals. Studies on HA have shown that it promotes the synthesis of cartilage matrix, prevents its degradation, reduces inflammation, stimulates the synthesis of endogenous HA, and improves the resilience and moisture of cartilage ^[1]. High molecular size HA preparations, applied topically, promote healing of fresh skin wounds. They also promote the healing of venous leg ulcers and are useful in the management of chronic wounds^[3].