Molecular analysis of hyaluronan

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This works seeks to understand the function of a long water-absorbing molecule called “hyaluronan” that plays an essential role in mammalian development where it is thought to provide a supportive niche for progenitor cells to proliferate. It is rapidly induced in tissues upon damage to assist in the repair process but how it helps is not understood. Our overall research program is aimed at understanding the function of hyaluronan in the body and how it interacts with its cell surface receptor, CD44. In this proposal we will evaluate the contribution of hyaluronan in the three phases of the wound repair process: 1) the inflammatory phase, 2) the proliferative phase and 3) the resolution phase. We will determine the factors that induce hyaluronan expression and regulate its turnover, determine the role hyaluronan plays in immune cell recruitment in the tissue and determine how important it is for the proliferation phase of the response. This will provide fundamental new knowledge that will help in our understanding of tissue renewal and repair and how the immune system helps this process. This new knowledge will help pinpoint hyaluronan’s action in tissue remodeling and will help scientists better understand the wound repair process. The role of hyaluronan in tissue renewal and repair will also be applicable to other areas of biology where hyaluronan is prevalent such as in development and in stem cell renewal. This work may also provide the basic knowledge required to help develop new strategies to promote tissue repair and prevent scarring. Furthermore, a better understanding of how hyaluronan functions in immune recruitment and in cell renewal has promising applications in the development of artificial matrices designed to support tissue regeneration. This research will be of use to immunologists, biologists and bio-engineers who can use the new information to design new applications and develop new technologies that promote tissue regeneration and advance the treatment of injuries. This research will also involve the training highly qualified personnel in innovative thinking, inventive scientific discovery and the use of cutting edge technologies. The new knowledge, the high trained personnel and the potential new technological applications will all be of benefit to Canada and the broader international scientific community.