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Rheumatology 2001; 40: 336-340
© 2001 British Society for Rheumatology

The role of hyaluronic acid in protecting surface-active phospholipids from lysis by exogenous phospholipase A2

D. W. Nitzan, U. Nitzan1, P. Dan1 and S. Yedgar1

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Hebrew University–Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem,
1 Department of Biochemistry, Hadassah University Hospital, The Hebrew University–Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel

Background. This in vitro study aimed to elucidate the extent and kind of involvement of hyaluronic acid (HA) in the currently accepted view of synovial joint lubrication, in which surface-active phospholipids (SAPL) constitute the main boundary lubricant. The integrity of SAPL is apparently threatened by the lysing activity of phospholipase A2 (PLA2).

Methods. The effects of increasing concentrations of HA degraded by free radicals and non-degraded HA on the lysing activity of PLA2 were examined in vitro. Liposomes (lipid model membrane) containing phosphatidylcholine (PC) were used as the substrate, on the assumption that they are appropriate representatives of SAPL.

Results. HA adhered to the phospholipid membrane (liposomes), inhibiting their lysis by PLA2. However, in its degraded form, HA not only failed to inhibit PLA2-lysing activity, but accelerated it.

Conclusions. It is reasonable to assume that HA plays an important indirect role in the steady state of the boundary lubrication process of joints by protecting SAPL from being lysed by PLA2. However, as excessive loading generates free radicals within the joint (among other effects), the HA that is degraded in this way is incapable of protecting SAPL from lysis by PLA2. When the rate of degradation exceeds that of synthesis, there will be insufficient replacement of HA and/or SAPL, resulting in denudation of the articular surfaces. These are then exposed to increasing friction, and hence increased danger of degenerative joint changes.

KEY WORDS: Hyaluronic acid, Lubrication, Phospholipase A2, Surface-active phospholipids, Synovial joint, Degenerative joint changes.

Correspondence to: D. W. Nitzan, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, P.O.B. 12272, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.


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