Synonym
- Chndroprotectives
- Suplasyn
- Synvisc
- GoOn
Group membership
Hyaluronic acid belongs to the group of so-called glycosaminoclycans or mucopolysaccharides, which are the basis of many biological structures in the organism. Like all glycosaminoclycans, hyaluronic acid is composed of repeating sugar units (disaccharides). The linkage of the sugars is characteristic for hyaluronic acid.
The linkage is therefore called beta 1-4 glycosidic. The exact chemical compound is called: beta 1-4 glycosidically linked glucoronyl beta 1-3 N-acetylgalactosamine dissacharide. Up to 100,000 of this building block can be arranged in a row to form the classic hyaluronan compound.
When the molecule is hydrated (i.e. it comes into contact with water) it expands and takes up to 10,000 times more space than in its ground state. This expansion becomes visible by a gel-like appearance that this substance takes on (hyaluronic acid). Hyaluronic acid is therefore a perfect water binder!
Production site of natural hyaluronic acid
This section is only for people interested in chemistry! Otherwise skip it directly. The main production site of hyaluronic acid is the fibroblasts of human tissue.
Fibroblasts are connective tissue cells that are mainly found in the connective tissue of animal organisms. Under the microscope, fibroblasts look elongated, forming long extensions that are very similar to a nerve cell. But also oval and partially oval fibroblasts can be observed.
Via their long extensions the individual fibroblasts are connected to each other or establish a connection. They possess a bright oval cell nucleus. The production of hyaluronic acid does not take place at the so-called rough endoplasmic reticulum, which is particularly well developed in fibroblasts, as is the case with other glycosaminoglycans, but by independent membrane proteins.
In addition to the glycosaminoglycans, the fibroblasts also produce procollagen, collagenase and acid mucupolysaccharides in considerable quantities. All these substances serve to build up connective tissue as well as biological membranes and sheaths. Fibroblasts are mobile but remain in one place.
In their maturing process they become the so-called fibrocytes. In this state they become immobile. Their production is stimulated by inflammation. During this process cytokines are released, which promote the maturation of the fibroblasts and at the same time reduce the inflammatory reaction in the corresponding area (hyaluronic acid).
