In the present study we have investigated the expression of mRNAs for hyalu
ronan synthase isoforms (HAS1, HAS2 and HAS3) in different cells in respons
e to various stimuli, Human mesothelial cells, which synthesize large amoun
ts of hyaluronan, express mRNAs encoding all three HAS isoforms, whereas th
eir transformed counterparts, mesothelioma cells, which produce only minute
amounts of hyaluronan, express only HAS3 mRNA. Human lung fibroblasts and
the glioma cell line U-118 MG express only the NAS2 and HAS3 genes. The exp
ression of the transcripts was higher in subconfluent than in confluent cul
tures and was well correlated with the production of hyaluronan by the cell
s. Stimulation of mesothelial cells with platelet-derived growth factor-BE
induced an up-regulation of mRNA for HAS2 to a maximum after 6 h of stimula
tion; HAS1 and HAS3 genes were only induced slightly. Transforming growth f
actor-beta 1 reduced HAS2 mRNA slightly, and hydrocortisone reduced it stro
ngly, within 6 h of stimulation in mesothelial cell cultures but did not si
gnificantly affect the expression of mRNAs for HAS1 and HAS3, Induction of
HAS1 and HAS2 protein levels in response to the stimuli above correlated wi
th HAS transcript levels. Thus the expression of the three HAS isoforms is
more prominent in growing cells than in resting cells and is differentially
regulated by various stimuli suggesting distinct functional roles of the t
hree proteins.