Review Article
The Role of Hyaluronan and CD44 in the Pathogenesis of Lupus Nephritis
Table 1
Functions of native and depolymerized hyaluronan.
| Native hyaluronan | Hyaluronan fragments |
| Contributes to tissue integrity and maintenance of epithelial cell phenotype | Induces chemokine and cytokine secretion in infiltrating, renal tubular epithelial and endothelial cells | Contributes to water balance and regulation of tissue hydration | Induces phosphorylation of signaling pathways, for example, MAPK | Contributes to transportation and distribution of plasma proteins | Induces cell proliferation and migration in chondrocytes, endothelial cells and fibroblasts | Protects against tissue damage by scavenging free radicals | Activates NFκB | Anti-inflammatory-can inhibit activation of inflammatory cells | Induces nitric oxide synthase | Protects against apoptosis | Suppresses cell death and apoptosis in cell culture | Anti-angiogenic | Promotes angiogenesis | Immunosuppressive-prevents ligand binding to surface receptors | Increases matrix protein synthesis, for example, collagen type I | Inhibits phagocytosis | Increases transcription of matrix metalloproteinases |
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Hyaluronan fragments: range from 4 to 40 saccharide units.
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