Leukoregulin is a potent inducer of hyaluronan synthesis in cultured human orbital fibroblasts

An investigation of human orbital fibroblast cultures reveals that synthesis of hyaluronan, a glycosaminoglycan, in these cultures depends on the 50 kDa glycoprotein lymphokine leukoregulin, the extent of synthesis increase by leukoregulin depending on concentration and time. The irregular glycosaminoglycan deposits in orbital connective tissues during Grave's ophthalmopathy can be studied using leukoregulin as a marker signal.