The roles of hyaluronan in kidney development, physiology and disease

The hyaluronan (HA) matrix in the tissue microenvironment is crucial for maintaining homeostasis by regulating inflammatory signalling, endothelial–mesenchymal transition and cell migration. During development, covalent modifications and osmotic swelling of HA create mechanical forces that initiate midgut rotation, vascular patterning and branching morphogenesis. Together with its main cell surface receptor, CD44, HA establishes a physicochemical scaffold at the cell surface that facilitates the interaction and clustering of growth factors and receptors that is required for normal physiology. High-molecular-weight HA, tumour necrosis factor-stimulated gene 6, pentraxin 3 and CD44 form a stable pericellular matrix that promotes tissue regeneration and reduces inflammation. By contrast, breakdown of high-molecular-weight HA into depolymerized fragments by hyaluronidases triggers inflammatory signalling, leukocyte migration and angiogenesis, contributing to tissue damage and fibrosis in kidney disease. Targeting HA metabolism is challenging owing to its dynamic regulation and tissue-specific functions. Nonetheless, modulating HA matrix functions by targeting its binding partners holds promise as a therapeutic strategy for restoring tissue homeostasis and mitigating pathological processes. Further research in this area is warranted to enable the development of novel therapeutic approaches for kidney and other diseases characterized by dysregulated HA metabolism. Hyaluronan is a critical component of the extracellular matrix, with key roles in tissue homeostasis, cellular signalling and immune responses. Here, the authors describe the roles of hyaluronan in kidney development, adult kidney physiology and kidney disease.