Abstract

Hyaluronidase HYAL-2 is a membrane-anchored protein and also localizes, in part, in the lysosome. Recent study from animal models revealed that both HYAL-1 and HYAL-2 are essential for the metabolism of hyaluronan (HA). Hyal-2 deficiency is associated with chronic thrombotic microangiopathy with hemolytic anemia in mice due to over accumulation of high molecular size HA. HYAL-2 is essential for platelet generation. Membrane HYAL-2 degrades HA bound by co-receptor CD44. Also, in a non-canonical signal pathway, HYAL-2 serves as a receptor for transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) to signal with downstream tumor suppressors WWOX and SMAD4 to control gene transcription. When SMAD4 responsive element is overly driven by the HYAL-2–WWOX–SMAD4 signaling complex, cell death occurs. When rats are subjected to traumatic brain injury, over accumulation of a HYAL-2–WWOX complex occurs in the nucleus to cause neuronal death. HA induces the signaling of HYAL-2–WWOX–SMAD4 and relocation of the signaling complex to the nucleus. If the signaling complex is overexpressed, bubbling cell death occurs in WWOX-expressing cells. In addition, a small synthetic peptide Zfra (zinc finger-like protein that regulates apoptosis) binds membrane HYAL-2 of non-T/non-B spleen HYAL-2+ CD3− CD19− Z lymphocytes and activates the cells to generate memory anticancer response against many types of cancer cells in vivo. Whether the HYAL-2–WWOX–SMAD4 signaling complex is involved is discussed. In this review and opinion article, we have updated the current knowledge of HA, HYAL-2 and WWOX, HYAL-2–WWOX–SMAD4 signaling, bubbling cell death, and Z cell activation for memory anticancer response.

Highlights

  • High molecular weight hyaluronan (HA) is accounted for approximately 0.02% of a human body weight (e.g., 16 g HA in an 80 kg individual), in which one third of the amount undergoes daily turnover (Stern, 2004; Viola et al, 2015; Chanmee et al, 2016)

  • We have shown that TGF-β1 binds membrane HYAL-2, followed by internalization of the resulting TGF-β1/HYAL-2 complexes by endosomes and fusion with lysosomes (Hsu et al, 2009)

  • Activated Z cells recognize many types of cancer cells, suggesting that there is a common antigen in the polymerized Zfra, which shares structural similarity with antigens on the surface of cancer cells

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Summary

INTRODUCTION

High molecular weight hyaluronan (HA) is accounted for approximately 0.02% of a human body weight (e.g., 16 g HA in an 80 kg individual), in which one third of the amount undergoes daily turnover (Stern, 2004; Viola et al, 2015; Chanmee et al, 2016). It is generally believed that high molecular weight HA provides a space-filling function for tissues and organs (Lee and Spicer, 2000) In this case, HA is strong in anti-inflammation, anti-angiogenesis and anti-cancer growth, and supports wound healing (Tian et al, 2013; Tolg et al, 2014; Schwertfeger et al, 2015; Litwiniuk et al, 2016). Low molecular weight HA is capable of stimulating angiogenesis, provoking proinflammation, and supporting cancer growth (Tian et al, 2013; Schwertfeger et al, 2015; Litwiniuk et al, 2016). Due to the altered conformation and reduced sizes, HA is able to achieve a great potency in anti-inflammation and blocking cancer growth (Chang and Su, 2016)

HA RECEPTORS AND SIGNALING
HYALURONIDASES AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE AND APPLICATIONS
HA DEGRADATION WITHOUT CATALYTIC ENZYMES
ROLE OF HA AND HYALURONIDASES IN CANCER PROGRESSION AND METASTASIS
HOW DOES Z CELL WORK IN VIVO?
Findings
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

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