Hyaluronan stimulates corneal epithelial migration.

Hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid), well-known for its viscoelastic properties, is also recognized as a biological signal to cells. Using organ cultures of the rabbit cornea, we investigated the effects of hyaluronan on the migration of corneal epithelium. The addition of hyaluronan to the culture medium increased the length of the path of the corneal epithelial layer in a dose-dependent fashion. Other glycosaminoglycans (chondroitin, chondroitin sulphate, keratan sulphate and heparan sulphate) were also tried, but only hyaluronan exhibited a stimulatory effect on corneal epithelial migration. The effects of hyaluronan and fibronectin or epidermal growth factor (EGF) were additive; the addition of antisera against fibronectin or against EGF did not alter the stimulatory effect of hyaluronan. These results demonstrate that hyaluronan stimulates corneal epithelial migration by mechanism(s) different from those of fibronectin and EGF.