Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jul 15, 2025 5 hours, 35 minutes ago
Medical News: The Role of Hyaluronic Acid in Our Immune System
Researchers from the Medical University of Bialystok in Poland have uncovered surprising insights into a natural substance in our bodies called hyaluronic acid (HA) and its major role in inflammation, immunity, and even the severity of COVID-19. HA is commonly known for its use in skincare and joint health, but it turns out to be much more important inside the body than many realize. This
Medical News report will help you understand how this molecule affects everything from infections to cancer.
How Hyaluronic Acid Fuels Inflammation and Worsens COVID-19
A Size That Matters
HA comes in different sizes in the body, and these sizes have completely opposite effects. When large (called high molecular weight HA), it calms inflammation and supports healing. But when it breaks into smaller fragments, it turns dangerous—triggering inflammation and contributing to serious disease. These small HA fragments activate immune receptors like CD44 and toll-like receptors (TLRs), which then spark a cascade of harmful immune reactions, leading to the release of substances like TNF-alpha and IL-6—key players in inflammation and damage.
How HA Turns Deadly During COVID-19
In the lungs of people infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, levels of HA shoot up. This is partly driven by inflammatory chemicals like IL-1β and TNF-α that stimulate HA production, especially the smaller, more harmful versions. The lung cells begin to overproduce HA, absorbing large amounts of water and leading to swelling, fluid buildup, and severe breathing problems.
Scientists even coined the term “HA storm” to describe this—similar to the cytokine storm that became a well-known cause of COVID-19 fatalities.
In patients with severe COVID-19, this overload of HA makes the situation worse. Not only does it increase lung damage, but these HA fragments also enter the bloodstream, making it possible to use HA levels as a marker to predict disease severity and mortality.
The Cancer and Obesity Connection
This same HA-triggered inflammation doesn’t stop with COVID-19. In obesity, excess fat tissue makes more small HA fragments, which in turn activate immune cells to produce inflammation—leading to a vicious cycle. In cancer, the overproduction of HA in tumors helps cancer cells grow and spread by disrupting normal immune regulation. It also awakens genes that promote cell survival, blood vessel formation, and resistance to treatment. This has been seen in breast, lung, colon, and prostate cancers, among others.
Final Thoughts
The new review by Polish scientists clearly shows that hyaluronic acid is far more than a skin-care ingredient. It is deeply involved in how our immune system works—sometimes protecting us, but often making things worse when broken down into smaller fragments. From worsening inflammation in COVID-19 and obesity to helpin
g cancers grow and evade the immune system, HA plays a pivotal role. Understanding its behavior may open the door to new treatments that prevent disease progression and improve survival in severe conditions.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Biomolecules
https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/7/1008
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-diagnostic-potential-of-hyaluronic-acid-in-covid-19
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/hyaluronic-acid-as-a-key-biomarker-for-covid-19-mortality
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-clotting-caused-by-damage-of-small-vessels-and-glycocalyx-which-releases-hyaluronic-acid,-syndecan-1,-p-selectin-that-promotes-agrregation
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