The extracellular matrix in IBD

Understanding the extracellular matrix

Tissue engineering deals with the growth and regeneration techniques of connective tissues or organs from a combination of cells and a scaffold to produce a functional organ. The engineering techniques therefore begin with an implantation of artificial materials, providing a proper environment for cells or tissues to be grown and functionalized. The scaffolds are often formulated with biodegrad...

Extracellular Matrix

The tissues of a multicellular organism contain two main components, the cells themselves, onwhichmost biological research has traditionally focused, and the material that lies between the cells. This material is called the extracellular matrix, usually abbreviated to ‘ECM’. The ratio of tissue volume occupied by ECM to that occupied by cells varies from less than 1:10 (e.g. in muscles) to more...

Extracellular matrix: understanding the complexity.

The Evolution of Extracellular Matrix

We present a perspective on the molecular evolution of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in metazoa that draws on research publications and data from sequenced genomes and expressed sequence tag libraries. ECM components do not function in isolation, and the biological ECM system or "adhesome" also depends on posttranslational processing enzymes, cell surface receptors, and extracellular proteases...

The matrix corroded: podosomes and invadopodia in extracellular matrix degradation.

Podosomes and invadopodia are unique actin-rich adhesions that establish close contact to the substratum but can also degrade components of the extracellular matrix. Accordingly, matrix degradation localized at podosomes or invadopodia is thought to contribute to cellular invasiveness in physiological and pathological situations. Cell types that form podosomes include monocytic, endothelial and...