Effect of 4-methylumbelliferone on hyaluronan synthesis of Streptococcus equi FM100

Abstract

4-Methylumbelliferone (MU) is a coumaric compound that was previously found to inhibit the hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid, HA) synthesis in cultured human skin fibroblasts (HSF). In this study, the effect of MU on the HA production of Streptococcus equi FM100 cells, as a model of HA synthesis, was examined. Decrease of HA production by MU was observed without growth inhibition. MU-Na, sodium salt of MU, also decreased the level of HA production, though the degree of the inhibition was not as remarkable as the case of MU. While when the other analogues of MU were added severally to the culture medium, the levels of HA production in FM100 cells were not affected. From the comparison between the structure and the effect on HA synthesis of MU-derivatives, it is suggested that the liposolubility is important for the inhibition of HA synthesis.