Molecular weight of hyaluronan

Figure 4.6 Experimental dependence of intrinsic viscosity on molecular weight of hyaluronan in 0. ISM solution ofNaCI. Short chains act as freely-jointed chains and long chain of hyaluronan behave like not freely-jointed chains [321. Reproduced from [321. With permission from Elsevier...

Kato Y, Nakamura S, Nishimura M. Beneficial actions of hyaluronan (HA) on arthritic joints effects of molecular weight of HA on elasticity of cartilage matrix. Biorheology 2006 43 347-354. 

Gomis A, Pawlak M, Balazs EA, Schmidt RF, Belmonte C. Effects of different molecular weight elastoviscous hyaluronan solntions on articular nociceptive afferents. Arthritis Rheum 2004 50 314-326. 

Hyaluronan is an anionic (in the range of the physiological pH values the carboxy group of the D-glucuronic acid residue is practically completely deprotonated), linear polysaccharide, the molecular weight of which essentially depends on the source and the production method (see Chapter 2). Usually the value of the molecular mass is in the range lO -lO Da, which corresponds to 25000 and more repeatable disaccharide units. 

It is assumed [15] that molecular weight plays the most important role in the mechanisms of physiological regulation. The relatively low-molecular weight fraction of HA (i.e. less than 10 000 Da) exhibits inflammatory action and induces angiogenesis (proliferation of the blood and lymphatic vessels). Hyaluronan with the molecular weight of 50000-100 000 Da stimulates cellular proliferation and activates the migration of cells. The fraction... 

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