Metabolism of Macromolecules in Tissue

Abstract

Hyaluronan (HA) plays an important role in maintaining tissue integrity, as well as in facilitating the migration of cells during inflammation, wound repair, and embryonic development. By comparison with other macromolecules of the extracellular matrix, HA undergoes rapid turnover. Most of its degradation does not occur locally, but within distant lymph nodes. During this process, tissue HA enters the afferent lymphatics and is transported with the lymph to the draining lymph nodes. Because of its unique catabolic pathway, the fate of HA is an interesting subject for investigation, particularly in pathological states of lymphangiodysplasia or lymphatic damage.