Table 2 Effects of hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid) and hylans on the extracellular matrix

Enhanced HA synthesis

Smith & Ghosh, 1987 [21]

Synovial fibroblasts of patients with normal joints and with OA; HA of various MWs and concentrations

Increased synthesis of chondroitin sulfate

Kawasaki et al., 1999 [52]

Rabbit chondrocytes; various HA doses

Enhanced PG synthesis

Frean et al., 1999 [22]

Equine articular cartilage; various HA doses

Fukuda et al., 1996 [56]

Bovine articular cartilage; various HA doses

Enhanced PG synthesis in the presence of IL-1α

Stöve et al., 2002 [58]

Human chondrocytes from OA knee patients; HA, IL-1α or HA + IL-1α

Increased production of high-MW PGs

Kikuchi et al., 1996 [57]

Rabbit ligamental cells; various HA doses

Increased content and influenced distribution of PGs

Kikuchi et al., 2001 [108]

Rabbit chondrocytes; various HA concentrations

Suppressed PG release from cartilage

Yoshioka et al., 1997 [19]

Rabbit ACL transection; HA (five weekly injections) given 4 weeks PS

Larsen et al., 1992 [61]

Bovine cartilage explants; HA or hylan

Suppressed PG release from cell matrix layer

Shimazu et al., 1993 [59]

Rabbit chondrocytes; various MWs and doses of HA

Decreased PG release from cartilage matrix

Morris et al., 1992 [60]

Bovine articular cartilage; various doses of HA with or without IL-1β

Prevented PG breakdown from cartilage

Ghosh et al., 1995 [53]

Ovine meniscectomy; HA (five weekly injections) given 16 weeks PS; keratan sulfate peptide measured in SF 1 week preinjection and 1 and 4 weeks postinjection

Protected extracellular matrix from degradation

Abatangelo et al., 1989 [63]

Canine ACL resection (Pond-Nuki); HA given 7 days PS weekly for 6 weeks