PROPERTIES OF HYALURONIC ACID AND MECHANISMS OF INFLUENCE ON AGING PROCESSES

Abstract

Hyaluronic acid (HA), hyaluronate or hyaluronan is an organic compound belonging to the group of non-sulfated glucosaminoglycans. This compound is an anionic linear polysaccharide with a molecular weight from 105 to 107 daltons, depending on the method of its production. HA is an important component of the human body. Its biologically active functions include participation in the processes of cell migration, proliferation and differentiation; regeneration and maintenance of the water balance of tissues; participation in a number of interactions with cell surface receptors; and ensuring the necessary viscosity of the synovial fluid and the elasticity of articular cartilage. The aim of the present study was to find out whether collagen degradation causes inhibition of HA synthesis in human skin fibroblasts. Thus, a new mechanism is presented of how proteolytic cleavage of collagen can inhibit HA synthesis in dermal fibroblasts during extrinsic skin ageing. It is a polymer of glycosaminoglycans present in embryogenesis and in tissues undergoing repair. It is responsible for the water content of the skin, where half of the body's hyaluronic acid is present. As in other tissues, it undergoes rapid turnover. Its biology differs greatly between the dermis and the epidermis. Levels do not decline with age, but instead become increasingly bound to tissues and resistant to extraction in vitro. Hyaluronan-binding proteins are involved, most of which remain unidentified. The size of hyaluronic acid is of decisive importance for its various functions. A high molecular size reflects intact tissues and antiangiogenic and immunosuppressive properties, while smaller polymers are distress signals and powerful inducers of inflammation and angiogenesis.