Hyaluronan-rich matrices are abundant in ECM and are involved in biological processes, such as cell growth and migration. Hyaluronan is synthesized by the hyaluronan synthase family of enzymes, HAS1, HAS2 and HAS3; the HAS1 and HAS3 genes give rise to different transcripts through alternative splicing, and the HAS2 gene to a non-coding RNA antisense transcript in addition to the protein-coding transcript. Biosynthesis of hyaluronan increases during inflammation and cancer and is regulated by cytokines and growth factors. In addition to extracellular hyaluronan-rich matrices, cytoplasmic and nuclear forms of hyaluronan have been detected in normal and pathological processes. Extra- and intra-cellular hyaluronan binds to hyaluronan binding proteins, such as CD44, RHAMM, CDC37 and USP17, affecting cellular behavior. Although neither the exact mechanisms by which hyaluronan is present in the intracellular compartments, nor its function at these sites are currently understood, there are evidence that intracellular hyaluronan has important regulatory roles during cell cycle, cell motility, RNA translation and splicing, and autophagy.

富含透明质酸的基质在ECM中含量很高，并参与生物过程，例如细胞生长和迁移。透明质酸是由透明质酸合酶家族HAS1，HAS2和HAS3合成的。在HAS1和HAS3基因产生通过剪接不同转录和HAS2除蛋白质编码转录本外，还可以将基因编码为非编码RNA反义转录本。透明质酸的生物合成在炎症和癌症期间增加，并受细胞因子和生长因子的调节。除细胞外富含透明质酸的基质外，还在正常和病理过程中检测到了透明质酸的胞质和核形式。细胞外和细胞内透明质酸与透明质酸结合蛋白（例如CD44，RHAMM，CDC37和USP17）结合，影响细胞行为。尽管目前尚不了解透明质酸存在于细胞内区室的确切机制或其在这些部位的功能，但有证据表明，细胞内透明质酸在细胞周期，细胞运动，RNA翻译和剪接以及自噬过程中具有重要的调节作用。