Tissue integrity signals communicated by high-molecular weight hyaluronan and the resolution of inflammation

S M Ruppert1, T R Hawn, A Arrigoni

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Rm. L-133, Stanford, CA, 94305-5107, USA.

Immunologic Research
|March 12, 2014
PubMed

The extracellular matrix polysaccharide hyaluronan (HA) exerts size-dependent effects on leukocyte behavior. Low-molecular weight HA is abundant at sites of active tissue catabolism and promotes inflammation via effects on Toll-like receptor signaling. Conversely, high-molecular weight HA is prevalent in uninjured tissues and is anti-inflammatory. We propose that the ability of high-molecular weight but not low-molecular weight HA to cross-link CD44 functions as a novel form of pattern recognition that recognizes intact tissues and communicates "tissue integrity signals" that promote resolution of local immune responses.

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