A comprehensive model of hyaluronan turnover in the mouse

The metabolism of hyaluronan (HA), especially its catabolism, is still far from being elucidated. Although several studies suggest that HA is degraded locally in tissues and through the lymphatic or circulatory systems, much needs to be learned about the enzymes, receptors and cell types that support this dynamic process. In the current work, the clearance of exogenously administered HA was examined in a C57BL/6 mouse model. Hyaluronidase-sensitive fluorescein-labeled 1.2 MDa hyaluronan (flHA) was administered either intravenously (i.v.) or subcutaneously (s.c.) into wild type C57BL/6 mice. Plasma was sampled for pharmacokinetic analysis and tissues were harvested for histological examination of the cell types responsible for uptake using immunofluorescent localization and for size exclusion chromatography analysis. We observed that flHA could be degraded locally in the skin or be taken up by sinusoidal cells in lymph nodes, liver and spleen. I.v. administration of flHA revealed non-linear Michaelis–Menten pharmacokinetics compatible with a saturable, receptor-mediated clearance system (Km = 11.6 μg/ml ± 46.0%, Vmax = 1.69 μg/ml/min ± 59.7%). Through a combination of immunofluorescence microscopy, pharmacokinetic, and chromatographic analyses of labeled substrate in vivo, our results shed additional light on the mechanisms by which HA is catabolized in mammals, and serve as a basis for future studies.

► Analysis of the turnover of fluorescein-labeled hyaluronan (flHA).
► flHA can be degraded locally or be taken up by the lymph nodes, liver and spleen.
► Intravenous administration of flHA results in non-linear pharmacokinetics.