Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) have been shown to serve as carrier proteins for the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and to modulate their biologic effects. Since extracellular matrix (ECM) has been shown to be a reservoir for IGF-I and IGF-II, we examined the ECM of cultured human fetal fibroblasts and found that IGFBP-5 was incorporated intact into ECM, while mostly in...

Tissue transglutaminase (TG2) affects cell-matrix interactions in cell spreading, migration and extracellular matrix (ECM) reorganisation. Using fibroblasts deficient in TG2 or overexpressing normal or crosslinking-deficient enzyme, we show that the extracellular crosslinking activity and intracellular G-protein function in signal transduction contribute differentially to regulation of cell-mat...

Cell interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM) can regulate multiple cellular activities and the matrix itself in dynamic, bidirectional processes. One such process is local proteolytic modification of the ECM. Invadopodia of tumor cells are actin-rich proteolytic protrusions that locally degrade matrix molecules and mediate invasion. We report that a novel high-density fibrillar collage...

Infection with the parasitic helminth Schistosoma mansoni causes significant liver fibrosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are important regulators of the ECM by regulating cellular inflammation, extracellular matrix deposition, and tissue reorganization. MMP12 is a macrophage-secreted elastase that is highly induced in the liver and lung in response ...

Morphology of senescent cells is constantly changing at the molecular level, which in turn leads to disruption of their function. It is connected with reduced ability to synthesize extracellular matrix (ECM) and leads to the dysfunction of integrin adhesion molecules and adhesion clusters. In skin, these factors cause a loss of communication between the extracellular matrix and fibroblasts. Thi...

The extracellular matrix (ECM) niche plays a critical role in determining cellular behavior during bone development including the differentiation and lineage allocation of skeletal progenitor cells to chondrocytes, osteoblasts, or marrow adipocytes. As major ECM component mineralized tissues, collagen has instructive as well structural roles is required for cell differentiation. Cells sense the...

Tissue transglutaminase (TG2) is a multifunctional Ca 2+ activated protein crosslinking enzyme secreted into the extracellular matrix (ECM), where it is involved in wound healing and scarring, tissue fibrosis, celiac disease and metastatic cancer. Extracellular TG2 can also facilitate cell adhesion important in wound healing through a non-transamidating mechanism via its association with fibron...

Interactions involving tumor cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) strongly influence tumor development, including head and neck tumors, affecting cell proliferation and survival as well as the ability to migrate beyond the original location into other tissues to form metastases. These cell migration is often facilitated by partial destruction of the surrounding ECM, which is catalyzed by ma...

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a major component of tumors and a significant contributor to cancer progression. In this study, we use proteomics to investigate the ECM of human mammary carcinoma xenografts and show that primary tumors of differing metastatic potential differ in ECM composition. Both tumor cells and stromal cells contribute to the tumor matrix and tumors of differing metastat...

The liver is a large highly vascularized organ with a central function in metabolic homeostasis, detoxification, and immunity. Due to its roles, the liver is frequently exposed to various insults which can cause cell death and hepatic dysfunction. Alternatively, the liver has a remarkable ability to self-repair and regenerate after injury. Liver injury and regeneration have both been linked to ...