Thrombospondin-2 Modulates Extracellular Matrix Remodeling during Physiological Angiogenesis

Extracellular Matrix Modulates Angiogenesis in Physiological and Pathological Conditions

Angiogenesis is a multistep process driven by a wide range of positive and negative regulatory factors. Extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a crucial role in the regulation of this process. The degradation of ECM, occurring in response to an angiogenic stimulus, leads to degradation or partial modification of matrix molecules, release of soluble factors, and exposure of cryptic sites with pro- and...

Matrix-bound thrombospondin promotes angiogenesis in vitro

Thrombospondin (TSP) is a multidomain adhesive protein postulated to play an important role in the biological activity of the extracellular matrix. To test this hypothesis, TSP-containing fibrin and collagen matrices were evaluated for their capacity to support angiogenesis and cell growth from explants of rat aorta. This serum-free model allowed us to study the angiogenic effect of TSP without...

Thrombospondin-1 contributes to slower aortic aneurysm growth by inhibiting maladaptive remodeling of extracellular matrix

In this issue of Clinical Science, Krishna and colleagues describe recent work on thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) maturation and its association with slower growth of aortic aneurysm in TSP-1 knockdown mouse models. The authors conclude that TSP-1 deficiency promotes maladaptive remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) leading to accelerated aortic aneurysm progression. We comment on a causal rela...

Extracellular Matrix Remodeling in Hypertension

Increases in arterial blood pressure cause cumulative changes in tissue structure and function, resulting ultimately in end-organ damage. One of the pathological hallmarks of hypertensive tissue injury is an increase in tissue fibrosis, which leads to reductions in tissue compliance and function. Fibrosis (or sclerosis) occurs as result of marked changes in the amount and composition of the ext...

Editorial: Brain Extracellular Space: Geometry, Matrix and Physiological Importance