Sindya N Bhanoo, Canine Genetic Wrinkle Has Human Potential. New York Times, Mar 22, 2011.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/science/22obdog.html?scp=1&sq=sharpei&st=cse
Note:
(a) Shar Pei
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shar_Pei
(沙皮; known for its distinctive features of deep wrinkles and a blue-black tongue; The English name probably derived from British spelling of the Cantonese equivalent; The origin of the Chinese Shar-Pei can be traced to the province of Guangdong)
(b) hyaluronan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyaluronan
(also called hyaluronic acid)
The latter is translated in Taiwan as 玻尿酸 (hyal- Late Latin, glass, from Greek, from hyalos).
(c) The report citesOlsson M et al, A Novel Unstable Duplication Upstream of HAS2 Predisposes to a Breed-Defining Skin Phenotype and a Periodic Fever Syndrome in Chinese Shar-Pei Dogs. PLoS _: _ (2011).
http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pgen.1001332
Quote:
"When fragmented, HA can act as a trigger of the innate immune system and stimulate sterile fever and inflammation." Abstract.
"At the beginning of the communist era dog ownership was highly taxed and the breed was brought close to extinction. A few Chinese Shar-Pei dogs were exported to the United States in the early 1970's and Shar-Pei descending from this limited number of animals have undergone strong selection for a wrinkled skin phenotype and heavily padded muzzle." Introduction.