Influence of hyaluronic acid on extracellular matrix produced by mesenchymal stem cells

Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the extracellular matrix found in various body fluids, organs and tissues. It is widely used in tissue engineering, as a drug delivery system and in various medical and pharmaceutical applications. It plays an important role in supporting cells during wound healing, recognizing specific surface receptors during the healing process, and favoring collagen deposition and angiogenesis. Hyaluronic acid is known to activate stem cells and is involved during the differentiation process. Nevertheless, it was demonstrated as hyaluronic acid’s biological functions and properties are strictly dependent on its molecular weight, also showing opposite effects between high-molecular- weight and low-molecular-weight. Here we tested the effects of hyaluronic acid with different molecular weights on mesenchymal stem cells, assessing the role of this natural linear polysaccharide in extracellular matrix deposition and remodeling. Gene expression of genes belonging to the “Extracellular Matrix and Adhesion Molecules” pathway was investigated in mesenchymal stem cells treated with high, medium, and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid solution 10 mg/ml for 24 h. Hyaluronic acid promotes the synthesis and stabilization of the extracellular matrix. Furthermore, treated cells respond to the treatment by opposing the inflammatory action of the molecule by down-regulating numerous metalloproteinases, thus trying to stop the degeneration processes of the extracellular matrix.