Hyaluronan and Reactive Oxygen Species Signaling—Novel Cues from the Matrix?

Redox Properties of Mn(III)porphyrins in Hyaluronan Oxidative Degradation: Single Electron Transfer Mechanism

Cationic Mn(III)-meso-tetraarylporphyrin derivatives, substituted in para position with different size alkyl chains, were investigated to function as antioxidants in free-radical degradation of high-molar-mass hyaluronan by the methods of rotational viscometry and oximetry. The results of rotational viscometry showed that MnTM-4-PyP5+, MnTE-4-PyP5+, MnTPr-4-PyP5+, MnTPen-4-PyP5+ and MnTHep-4-PyP5+ showed high efficiency in decomposing H2O2, and reducing of peroxidized hyaluronan. When using oxygen electrode, MnTE-4-PyP5+, MnTPr-4-PyP5+, MnTPen-4-PyP5+, and MnTHep-4-PyP5+ applied to function as protective antioxidants in hyaluronan degradation, the uptake of dissolved oxygen from the reaction milieu was rapid, followed by continual increase in oxygen concentration up to the end of the measurement. However, when especially MnTE-4-PyP5+, MnTPr-4-PyP5+, and MnTPen-4-PyP5+ were examined as hyaluronan chain-breaking antioxidants, after short-term dissolved oxygen uptake, almost no increase in oxygen concentration was shown.

In Utero Extrahepatic Bile Duct Damage and Repair: Implications for Biliary Atresia

Biliary atresia (BA) is a cholangiopathy affecting the extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) of newborns. The etiology and pathophysiology of BA are not fully understood; however, multiple causes of damage and obstruction of the neonatal EHBD have been identified. Initial damage to the EHBD likely occurs before birth. We discuss how different developmental stages in utero and birth itself could influence the susceptibility of the fetal EHBD to damage and a damaging wound-healing response. We propose that a damage-repair response of the fetal and neonatal EHBD involving redox stress and a program of fetal wound healing could-regardless of the cause of the initial damage-lead to either obstruction and BA or repair of the duct and recovery. This overarching concept should guide future research targeted toward identification of factors that contribute to recovery as opposed to progression of injury and fibrosis. Viewing BA through the lens of an in utero damage-repair response could open up new avenues for research and suggests exciting new therapeutic targets.

Recent Advances in the Degradability and Applications of Tissue Adhesives Based on Biodegradable Polymers

In clinical practice, tissue adhesives have emerged as an alternative tool for wound treatments due to their advantages in ease of use, rapid application, less pain, and minimal tissue damage. Since most tissue adhesives are designed for internal use or wound treatments, the biodegradation of adhesives is important. To endow tissue adhesives with biodegradability, in the past few decades, various biodegradable polymers, either natural polymers (such as chitosan, hyaluronic acid, gelatin, chondroitin sulfate, starch, sodium alginate, glucans, pectin, functional proteins, and peptides) or synthetic polymers (such as poly(lactic acid), polyurethanes, polycaprolactone, and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)), have been utilized to develop novel biodegradable tissue adhesives. Incorporated biodegradable polymers are degraded in vivo with time under specific conditions, leading to the destruction of the structure and the further degradation of tissue adhesives. In this review, we first summarize the strategies of utilizing biodegradable polymers to develop tissue adhesives. Furthermore, we provide a symmetric overview of the biodegradable polymers used for tissue adhesives, with a specific focus on the degradability and applications of these tissue adhesives. Additionally, the challenges and perspectives of biodegradable polymer-based tissue adhesives are discussed. We expect that this review can provide new inspirations for the design of novel biodegradable tissue adhesives for biomedical applications.

Naked mole-rat hyaluronan

Naked mole rats (NMRs) are renowned for their exceptional longevity and remarkable maintenance of health throughout their lifetime. Their subterranean lifestyle has led to adaptations that have resulted in elevated levels of a very high molecular weight hyaluronan in their tissues. Hyaluronan, a glycosaminoglycan, is a key component of the extracellular matrix, which plays a critical role in maintaining tissue structure and regulating cell signaling pathways. This phenomenon in NMRs is attributed to a higher processing and production capacity by some of their hyaluronan synthases, along with lower degradation by certain hyaluronidases. Furthermore, this adaptation indirectly confers several advantages to NMRs, such as the preservation of skin elasticity and youthful appearance, accelerated wound healing, protection against oxidative stress, and resistance to conditions such as cancer and arthritis, largely attributable to CD44 signaling and other intricate mechanisms. Thus, the main objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive study of the distinctive features of NMR hyaluronan, particularly emphasizing the currently known molecular mechanisms that contribute to its beneficial properties. Furthermore, this research delves into the potential applications of NMR hyaluronan in both cosmetic and therapeutic fields, as well as the challenges involved.

Characteristics of the Antitumor Effect of Doxorubicin and Pegylated Hyaluronidase on Models of Rat Brain Tumors

Hyaluronidase increases tissue permeability and diffusion of the extracellular fluid by cleaving hyaluronan, the primary component of the extracellular matrix. Hyaluronidase pegylation (Hyal-PEG) decreases its clearance and enhances biodistribution. The pro- and anticancer activity of Hyal-PEG and a combination of Hyal-PEG with doxorubicin were studied in vitro (morphological analysis of rat glioblastoma 101.8 spheroids) and in vivo (by the survival time of rats after intracerebral transplantation of the tumor and morphological analysis). In the presence of doxorubicin and Hyal-PEG in the culture medium in vitro, spheroids lost their ability to adhere to the substrate and disintegrate into individual cells. Intracerebral transplantation of the tumor tissue with Hyal-PEG did not accelerate glioblastoma growth. The mean survival time for animals receiving transplantation of the tumor alone and in combination with Hyal-PEG was 13 and 20 days, respectively. In one rat with transplanted tumor and Hyal-PEG, this parameter increased by 53%. The survival time of rats receiving systemic therapy with doxorubicin and Hyal-PEG significantly increased (p=0.003). Antitumor effect of therapeutic doses of doxorubicin combined with Hyal-PEG was demonstrated on the model of rat glioblastoma 101.8 in vitro. Hyal-PEG inhibited adhesion of tumor cells, but did not cause their death. Transplantation of Hyal-PEG-treated tumor did not reduce animal survival time. Systemic administration of therapeutic doses of doxorubicin with Hyal-PEG increased survival time of rats with glioblastoma 101.8.

Pain Management Strategies in Osteoarthritis

Pain is the major symptom of osteoarthritis (OA) and is an important factor in strategies to manage this disease. However, the current standard of care does not provide satisfactory pain relief for many patients. The pathophysiology of OA is complex, and its presentation as a clinical syndrome is associated with the pathologies of multiple joint tissues. Treatment options are generally classified as pharmacologic, nonpharmacologic, surgical, and complementary and/or alternative, typically used in combination to achieve optimal results. The goals of treatment are the alleviation of symptoms and improvement in functional status. Several studies are exploring various directions for OA pain management, including tissue regeneration techniques, personalized medicine, and targeted drug therapies. The aim of the present narrative review is to extensively describe all the treatments available in the current practice, further describing the most important innovative therapies. Advancements in understanding the molecular and genetic aspects of osteoarthritis may lead to more effective and tailored treatment approaches in the future.

Development of New Resolvin D1 Analogues for Osteoarthritis Therapy: Acellular and Computational Approaches to Study Their Antioxidant Activities

In osteoarthritis (OA), oxidative stress plays a crucial role in maintaining and sustaining cartilage degradation. Current OA management requires a combination of pharmaceutical and non-pharmacological strategies, including intraarticular injections of hyaluronic acid (HA). However, several lines of evidence reported that HA oxidation by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is linked with HA cleavage and fragmentation, resulting in reduced HA viscosity. Resolvin D1 (RvD1) is a lipid mediator that is biosynthesized from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and is a good candidate with the potential to regulate a panoply of biological processes, including tissue repair, inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death in OA. Herein, newly designed and synthesized imidazole-derived RvD1 analogues were introduced to compare their potential antioxidant properties with commercially available RvD1. Their antioxidant capacities were investigated by several in vitro chemical assays including oxygen radical absorbance capacity, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and HA fragmentation assay. All results proved that imidazole-derived RvD1 analogues showed excellent antioxidant performance compared to RvD1 due to their structural modifications. Interestingly, they scavenged the formed reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protected HA from degradation, as verified by agarose gel electrophoresis and gel permission chromatography. A computational study using Gaussian 09 with DFT calculations and a B3LYP/6-31 G (d, p) basis set was also employed to study the relationship between the antioxidant properties and chemical structures as well as calculation of the molecular structures, frontier orbital energy, molecular electrostatic potential, and bond length. The results showed that the antioxidant activity of our analogues was higher than that of RvD1. In conclusion, the findings suggest that imidazole-derived RvD1 analogues can be good candidates as antioxidant molecules for the treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases like OA. Therefore, they can prolong the longevity of HA in the knee and thus may improve the mobility of the articulation.

A biological guide to glycosaminoglycans: current perspectives and pending questions

Mammalian glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), except hyaluronan (HA), are sulfated polysaccharides that are covalently attached to core proteins to form proteoglycans (PGs). This article summarizes key biological findings for the most widespread GAGs, namely HA, chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS), keratan sulfate (KS), and heparan sulfate (HS). It focuses on the major processes that remain to be deciphered to get a comprehensive view of the mechanisms mediating GAG biological functions. They include the regulation of GAG biosynthesis and postsynthetic modifications in heparin (HP) and HS, the composition, heterogeneity, and function of the tetrasaccharide linkage region and its role in disease, the functional characterization of the new PGs recently identified by glycoproteomics, the selectivity of interactions mediated by GAG chains, the display of GAG chains and PGs at the cell surface and their impact on the availability and activity of soluble ligands, and on their move through the glycocalyx layer to reach their receptors, the human GAG profile in health and disease, the roles of GAGs and particular PGs (syndecans, decorin, and biglycan) involved in cancer, inflammation, and fibrosis, the possible use of GAGs and PGs as disease biomarkers, and the design of inhibitors targeting GAG biosynthetic enzymes and GAG-protein interactions to develop novel therapeutic approaches.

Elevated Urine Hyaluronan Concentrations Are Associated with an Unfavorable Respiratory Outcome in Preterm Neonates at 40 Weeks Postmenstrual Age

INTRODUCTION

Hyaluronan (HA) is a major component of the extracellular matrix. Increased pulmonary HA concentrations are associated with several respiratory disorders and is a pathophysiological feature of lung disease. We investigated whether elevated urine HA is a biomarker of an unfavorable 40-week respiratory outcome in preterm infants.

METHODS

Infants comprised a cohort of preterm neonates <31 weeks gestational age (GA) from the Prematurity-Related Ventilatory Control (Pre-Vent) multicenter study. HA was quantified in urine obtained at 1 week and 1 month of age. Respiratory status at 40 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA) was classified as unfavorable [either (1) deceased at or before 40 weeks PMA, (2) an inpatient on respiratory medication, O2 or other respiratory support at 40 weeks, or (3) discharged prior to 40 weeks on medications/O2/other respiratory support], or favorable (alive and previously discharged, or inpatient and off respiratory medications, off O2, and off other respiratory support at 40 weeks PMA). The association between urine HA and the unfavorable 40 week PMA outcome was examined using a multivariate logistic generalized estimation equation model.

RESULTS

Infants with higher HA at 1 week (but not 1 month) showed increased odds of unfavorable respiratory outcome at 40 weeks PMA (OR [95% CI] = 1.87 per 0.01 mg [1.27, 2.73]).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Neonatal urine screening for HA could identify infants at risk for death or need for respiratory support at term-corrected age (40 weeks PMA). The relationship between elevated HA at 1 week and an unfavorable 40 week outcome was stronger in infants with lower GA.

Evaluation of Antioxidants' Ability to Enhance Hyaluronic-acid Based Topical Moisturizers

Background

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a unique molecule of the extracellular matrix with multiple biological activities. In skin, HA plays an essential role as a humectant, capable of binding up to 1,000 times its mass with water, providing skin with moisture and viscoelastic properties. HA concentration and synthesis decrease significantly in aging skin, due to exogenous and endogenous factors, including photoaging and HA metabolism. A key driver for HA degradation and reduced concentration is mediated via induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other free radicals.

Objective

In this study, we evaluate antioxidant ingredients essential in the development of next-generation HA-based topical formulations aimed at leveraging HA's ability to maximize anti-aging properties.

Methods

Two antioxidants, glycine saponin (Glycine soja germ extract) and glycyrrhetinic acid (enoxolone), were evaluated for stimulation of endogenous HA production and inhibition of endogenous hyaluronidase activity, respectively.

Results

The antioxidant glycine saponin induced endogenous HA synthesis in fibroblasts, while the antioxidant glycyrrhetinic acid decreased the degradation rate of HA by 54 percent.

Conclusion

While HA has been included in numerous topical skin products, critical aspects of HA metabolism, especially in aging skin, have often been overlooked, including decreases in HA synthesis with increasing age, and increases in HA degradation mediated by exogenously induced reactive oxygen species and free radicals and increased enzymatic degradation by endogenous hyaluronidases. Here, we describe a unique approach to inclusion of two antioxidants essential for the development of the next generation of antioxidant complex-based topical skin formulations to limit the signs of aging skin.

Inhibition of Photoaging by Anthocyanin Metabolites Derived from Rose Petal Extract

SCOPE

Rose petal extract (RPE) shows a significant antioxidant effect through its anthocyanin content. However, the mechanism underlying the anti-aging effects of orally administered RPE remains unclear. This study aims to describe the anti-aging effect and mechanism of action of orally administered RPE in ultraviolet (UV)B-induced skin aging.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study evaluates the protein expression of collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1) and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) and the mRNA expression of hyaluronic synthase 2 (HAS2) in human dermal fibroblasts. In addition, the hyaluronidase and collagenase inhibitory activities of RPE are confirmed. To evaluate the anti-aging effects of RPE, SKH-1 hairless mice are administered RPE daily for 12 weeks. Wrinkle formation, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and skin moisture loss induced by UVB irradiation are suppressed in the dorsal skin of SKH-1 hairless mice orally administered RPE. Oral administration of RPE suppresses UVB irradiation-induced collagen disruption and reduction of hyaluronic acid. To find the bioactive compound in the RPE, serum protocatechuic acid (PCA), an anthocyanin metabolite, is analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

CONCLUSION

Anthocyanins in RPE are metabolized to PCA in the body and circulated through the bloodstream to exhibit anti-aging effects on the skin.

Intraplaque injections of hyaluronic acid for the treatment of stable-phase Peyronie's disease: a retrospective single-center experience

ABSTRACT

Peyronie's disease (PD) is a condition of penile connective tissue affecting up to 10% of men worldwide. In the complexity of its management, nonsurgical treatments, such as intraplaque injections, are gaining attention. The current literature shows data on the efficacy of intraplaque injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) mainly in acute-phase PD. However, data on injections of HA in stable-phase PD are lacking. Data for this retrospective study were derived from a prospectively maintained database of private patients presenting at a private medical practice affiliated to the University of Naples "Federico II" (Naples, Italy) with stable-phase PD between January 2020 and March 2023. Patients underwent a standard protocol of three injections, each administered at a two-week interval. During the intervals, patients performed vacuum device therapy, penile stretching, and modeling exercises. All patients compiled the Peyronie's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ) and Global Assessment of Peyronie's Disease (GAPD) at baseline and 2 weeks after the third injection. A penile Doppler ultrasound was performed 2 weeks after the last injection to record the final curvature. Overall, we recruited 62 patients with stable-phase PD and a mean (±standard deviation [s.d.]) curvature of 52.7° (±9.7°). After 6 weeks, eight (12.9%) patients did not experience any curvature improvement. The remaining 54 patients had a final mean (±s.d.) curvature of 40.3° (±9.1°) with P < 0.001, compared to that before treatment. We found improvement in all PDQ domains (all P ≤ 0.01), and 50 (80.6%) patients reported subjective improvement of the penile curvature according to the GAPD. In conclusion, we demonstrated that after three injections of HA administered according to the adopted protocol, patients with stable-phase PD could experience significant improvements in penile curvature, and physical and psychological consequences of the disease without significantly relevant side effects.

Hyaluronan-arginine enhanced and dynamic interaction emerges from distinctive molecular signature due to electrostatics and side-chain specificity

Hyaluronan is a natural carbohydrate polymer with a negative charge that fosters gel-like conditions crucial for its cellular functions and industrial applications. As a recognized ligand for proteins, understanding their mutual interactions provides solid ground to tune hyaluronan's gel properties using biocompatible peptides. This work employs NMR and molecular dynamics simulations to identify molecular motifs relevant to hyaluronan-peptide interactions using arginine, lysine, and glycine oligopeptides. Arginine-rich peptides exhibit the strongest binding to hyaluronan according to chemical shift perturbation measurements, followed distantly by the similarly charged lysine. This difference highlights the significance of electrostatics and the peculiarities of the guanidinium side chain in arginine, capable of non-polar interactions that further stabilize the binding. Additional nuclear Overhauser effect measurements do not show stable interaction partners, precluding strong and well-defined complexes. Finally, molecular simulations support our findings and show an extended but significant interaction region, especially for arginine, responsible for the observed enhanced binding, which can also promote cross-linking of hyaluronan polymers. Our findings pave the way for optimizing biocompatible peptides to alter hyaluronan gels' properties efficiently and also explain why hyaluronan-protein interaction typically involves positively charged arginine-rich regions also capable of forming hydrogen bonds and non-polar interactions.

Comparison of Biological Activities and Protective Effects on PAH-Induced Oxidative Damage of Different Coffee Cherry Pulp Extracts

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the main toxic components of ambient air particulate matter (PM), causing oxidative damage to the skin and ultimately resulting in skin aging. This study was conducted to determine the anti-oxidant, anti-aging properties and protective effects of the extracts of coffee cherry pulp (Coffea arabica L.), which is a by-product of the coffee industry, against the oxidative damage induced by PAH exposure in human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT). Three different techniques were used to extract the coffee cherry pulp: maceration, Soxhlet and ultrasonication to obtain CCM, CCS and CCU extract, respectively, which were then compared to investigate the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). The chemical compositions were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results demonstrated that Soxhlet could extract the highest content of chlorogenic acid, caffeine and theophylline. CCS showed the significantly highest TPC (324.6 ± 1.2 mg GAE/g extract), TFC (296.8 ± 1.2 mg QE/g extract), anti-radical activity against DPPH free radicals (98.2 ± 0.8 µM Trolox/g extract) and lipid peroxidation inhibition (136.6 ± 6.2 µM Trolox/g extract). CCS also showed the strongest anti-aging effects based on collagenase, elastase, hyaluronidase and tyrosinase inhibitory enzymes. In addition, CCS can protect human keratinocyte cells from PAH toxicity by increasing the cellular anti-oxidant capacity. This study suggests that CCS has the potential to be used as a cosmetic material that helps alleviate skin damage caused by air pollution.

Global impact of proteoglycan science on human diseases

In this comprehensive review, we will dissect the impact of research on proteoglycans focusing on recent developments involved in their synthesis, degradation, and interactions, while critically assessing their usefulness in various biological processes. The emerging roles of proteoglycans in global infections, specifically the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and their rising functions in regenerative medicine and biomaterial science have significantly affected our current view of proteoglycans and related compounds. The roles of proteoglycans in cancer biology and their potential use as a next-generation protein-based adjuvant therapy to combat cancer is also emerging as a constructive and potentially beneficial therapeutic strategy. We will discuss the role of proteoglycans in selected and emerging areas of proteoglycan science, such as neurodegenerative diseases, autophagy, angiogenesis, cancer, infections and their impact on mammalian diseases.

Effects of Radiation-Induced Skin Injury on Hyaluronan Degradation and Its Underlying Mechanisms

Radiation-induced skin injury (RISI) is a frequent and severe complication with a complex pathogenesis that often occurs during radiation therapy, nuclear incidents, and nuclear war, for which there is no effective treatment. Hyaluronan (HA) plays an overwhelming role in the skin, and it has been shown that UVB irradiation induces increased HA expression. Nevertheless, to the best of our knowledge, there has been no study regarding the biological correlation between RISI and HA degradation and its underlying mechanisms. Therefore, in our study, we investigated low-molecular-weight HA content using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and changes in the expression of HA-related metabolic enzymes using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and a Western blotting assay. The oxidative stress level of the RISI model was assessed using sodium dismutase, malondialdehyde, and reactive oxygen species assays. We demonstrated that low-molecular-weight HA content was significantly upregulated in skin tissues during the late phase of irradiation exposure in the RISI model and that HA-related metabolic enzymes, oxidative stress levels, the MEK5/ERK5 pathway, and inflammatory factors were consistent with changes in low-molecular-weight HA content. These findings prove that HA degradation is biologically relevant to RISI development and that the HA degradation mechanisms are related to HA-related metabolic enzymes, oxidative stress, and inflammatory factors. The MEK5/ERK5 pathway represents a potential mechanism of HA degradation. In conclusion, we aimed to investigate changes in HA content and preliminarily investigate the HA degradation mechanism in a RISI model under γ-ray irradiation, to consider HA as a new target for RISI and provide ideas for novel drug development.

The Brain Endothelial Cell Glycocalyx Plays a Crucial Role in the Development of Enlarged Perivascular Spaces in Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The brain endothelial cell (BEC) glycocalyx (ecGCx) is a BEC surface coating consisting of a complex interwoven polysaccharide (sweet husk) mesh-like network of membrane-bound proteoglycans, glycoproteins, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) covering the apical luminal layer of the brain endothelial cells. The ecGCx may be considered as the first barrier of a tripartite blood-brain barrier (BBB) consisting of (1) ecGCx; (2) BECs; and (3) an extravascular compartment of pericytes, the extracellular matrix, and perivascular astrocytes. Perturbations of this barrier allow for increased permeability in the postcapillary venule that will be permissive to both fluids, solutes, and proinflammatory peripherally derived leukocytes into the perivascular spaces (PVS) which result in enlargement as well as increased neuroinflammation. The ecGCx is known to have multiple functions, which include its physical and charge barrier, mechanical transduction, regulation of vascular permeability, modulation of inflammatory response, and anticoagulation functions. This review discusses each of the listed functions in detail and utilizes multiple transmission electron micrographs and illustrations to allow for a better understanding of the ecGCx structural and functional roles as it relates to enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS). This is the fifth review of a quintet series that discuss the importance of EPVS from the perspective of the cells of brain barriers. Attenuation and/or loss of the ecGCx results in brain barrier disruption with increased permeability to proinflammatory leukocytes, fluids, and solutes, which accumulate in the postcapillary venule perivascular spaces. This accumulation results in obstruction and results in EPVS with impaired waste removal of the recently recognized glymphatic system. Importantly, EPVS are increasingly being regarded as a marker of cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative pathology.

Effects of Hyaluronan on Breast Cancer Aggressiveness

The expression of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in breast cancer cells is critical for determining tumor aggressiveness and targeting therapies. The presence of such receptors allows for the use of antagonists that effectively reduce breast cancer growth and dissemination. However, the absence of such receptors in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) reduces the possibility of targeted therapy, making these tumors very aggressive with a poor outcome. Cancers are not solely composed of tumor cells, but also include several types of infiltrating cells, such as fibroblasts, macrophages, and other immune cells that have critical functions in regulating cancer cell behaviors. In addition to these cells, the extracellular matrix (ECM) has become an important player in many aspects of breast cancer biology, including cell growth, motility, metabolism, and chemoresistance. Hyaluronan (HA) is a key ECM component that promotes cell proliferation and migration in several malignancies. Notably, HA accumulation in the tumor stroma is a negative prognostic factor in breast cancer. HA metabolism depends on the fine balance between HA synthesis by HA synthases and degradation yielded by hyaluronidases. All the different cell types present in the tumor can release HA in the ECM, and in this review, we will describe the role of HA and HA metabolism in different breast cancer subtypes.

Glycocalyx-Sodium Interaction in Vascular Endothelium

The glycocalyx generally covers almost all cellular surfaces, where it participates in mediating cell-surface interactions with the extracellular matrix as well as with intracellular signaling molecules. The endothelial glycocalyx that covers the luminal surface mediates the interactions of endothelial cells with materials flowing in the circulating blood, including blood cells. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. The cardiovascular risk factors start by causing endothelial cell dysfunction associated with destruction or irregular maintenance of the glycocalyx, which may culminate into a full-blown cardiovascular disease. The endothelial glycocalyx plays a crucial role in shielding the cell from excessive exposure and absorption of excessive salt, which can potentially cause damage to the endothelial cells and underlying tissues of the blood vessels. So, in this mini review/commentary, we delineate and provide a concise summary of the various components of the glycocalyx, their interaction with salt, and subsequent involvement in the cardiovascular disease process. We also highlight the major components of the glycocalyx that could be used as disease biomarkers or as drug targets in the management of cardiovascular diseases.