Trends in Glycoscience and Glycotechnology
Online ISSN : 1883-2113
Print ISSN : 0915-7352
ISSN-L : 0915-7352
Article for JSCR 40th Anniversary Issue
Multifaceted Roles of Hyaluronan in Cancer Stem Cell Regulation: From Microenvironment Formation to Metabolic Reprogramming
Naoki Itano
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2019 Volume 31 Issue 181 Pages SE30-SE31

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Abstract

Hyaluronan acts as a major extracellular matrix component in regulation of tissue organization and cellular functions, and its production is markedly increased with cancer progression. Since the discovery of hyaluronan synthase (HAS) genes, manipulation of HAS gene expression has led to better understanding of the altered hyaluronan biosynthesis in cancer. We have demonstrated that hyaluronan overproduction promotes cancer progression by modulating tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, we recently discovered that hyaluronan production regulates cancer stem cell (CSC) properties via the metabolic reprogramming of glycolysis and hexosamine biosynthetic pathway. These findings strongly suggest that hyaluronan plays a regulatory role in cellular metabolism coupled with its biosynthesis, in addition to its function as a conventional extracellular signal. In this review, I discuss multifaceted roles of hyaluronan in CSC regulation.

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© 2019 FCCA (Forum: Carbohydrates Coming of Age)
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