Hyaluronan degradation

Hyaluronan (HA) turnover can occur locally at the tissue of origin, where it is taken up by cells to be degraded, or released into the lymphatic and vascular systems, where it can be eliminated by the liver and kidneys. Uptake of HA into cells for degradation involves receptor-mediated processes. Once HA enters lysosomes, the acidic conditions favour hyaluronidases to cleave it into small oligosaccharides, the most common size being a tetrasaccharide. Beta-glucuronidases participate in degrading the small oligosaccharides in the lysosome. Ultimately, HA is degraded into its constituent sugars (glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine) which can be used to reform many glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) when released from the lysosome.

Summary from Reactome (R-HSA-2160916), read 2026-09-23.