Hyaluronic acid exists naturally in the biochemical structure in all DUPS nodules. Here is a copy of an article in Entrez PubMed.

Andreutti D, Geinoz A, Gabbiani G.

Department of Pathology, University of Geneva-CMU, Switzerland.

Hyaluronic acid represents a major constituent of the extracellular matrix and influences numerous cellular processes. We have studied the effect of this molecule on migration, proliferation and alpha-smooth muscle actin expression by rat and human cultured fibroblasts. Depending on the tissue origin of the fibroblasts, hyaluronic acid induced, inhibited or did not affect fibroblast migration, whereas proliferation was never affected. Alpha-smooth muscle actin expression was inhibited by hyaluronic acid in all types of human and rat fibroblasts studied, but the inhibition was stronger and dose dependent for subcutaneous fibroblasts and for those recovered from Dupuytren's nodules. This property of inhibiting alpha-smooth muscle actin expression makes hyaluronic acid a good candidate to exert antifibrotic activity.

PMID: 10457603 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Hi Mark

maybe the following will help. But it is a laymans attempt.

Hyaluronic Acid - influences numerous cellular processes.

They have studied the effect of the HA molecule on growth/proliferation etc. and alpha-smooth muscle actin expression by cultered fibroblasts -
"alpha smooth muscle actin" - is more contractile than fibroblasts (muscle like)
"actin" - a protein found in muscle.
"fibroblasts" - is a cell that makes the structural fibers of connective tissue. "fibroblasts" - can give rise to to other cells such as smooth muscle cells. "fibroblasts" - make collogen. All the above relate to Dups.
The study finds that: Hyaluronic Acid inhibited "muscle actin expression" in all types of human fibroblasts studied but the inhibition was stronger for Dupuytren's.
They claim HA is good candidate for antifibrotic activity.
Dupuytren's is a fibrotic type of disease.
Hyaluronic Acid inhibits the "alpha-smooth muscle actin" which presumably they are saying is the contraction factor in Dups. So if you inhibit the "alpha-smooth muscle actin" what happens as it makes up only a small portion of biochemistry of a nodule?