Extracellular Matrix in Development and Disease

Extracellular matrix degradation and remodeling in development and disease.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) serves diverse functions and is a major component of the cellular microenvironment. The ECM is a highly dynamic structure, constantly undergoing a remodeling process where ECM components are deposited, degraded, or otherwise modified. ECM dynamics are indispensible during restructuring of tissue architecture. ECM remodeling is an important mechanism whereby cell d...

Extracellular matrix and liver disease.

SIGNIFICANCE The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic microenvironment that undergoes continuous remodeling, particularly during injury and wound healing. Chronic liver injury of many different etiologies such as viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse, drug-induced liver injury, obesity and insulin resistance, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune disease is characterized by excessive deposition of EC...

The Extracellular Matrix, Matrix Metalloproteinases and their roles in Disease

Biomedical research is often thought to primarily focus upon the trillions of cells that make up the body. However just as study of the immune system cannot ignore the lymph in favor of blood, the extracellular matrix (ECM) cannot be ignored in favor of the cells. The ECM is a dynamic structure that acts as scaffolding substrate for cell adhesion, as well as a reservoir of various proteins, gro...

Vascular extracellular matrix and aortic development.

Extracellular Matrix Dynamics in Early Development

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an inherently dynamic structure during development. Large-scale tissue movements sweep the ECM to distant positions during early embryogenesis; furthermore, the previously assembled ECM filaments are extensively reused during later organogenesis. Thus, some organs, such as the heart, inherit previously assembled ECM filaments. This review focuses on the macro-a...