The mammalian extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex network of collagens, proteoglycans, glycoproteins, polysaccharides and other secreted proteins that plays fundamental structural and functional roles. In addition to its key function as an extracellular space-filling scaffold, the ECM is also implicated in the formation of important cell-cell and cell-ECM (i.e. juxtacrine) interactions that...

Extracellular Matrix (ECM) is the biologically active connective framework extending between cells; the composition of the ECM contributes significantly to wound healing, cell proliferation, cell mobility, and cell differentiation [1]. ECM occurs in two basic forms in animal tissues: stromal matrix and basement membrane [2]. The basement membrane is a thin layer of ECM located on the basolatera...

UNLABELLED Bacterial biofilms are ubiquitous in nature, and their resilience is derived in part from a complex extracellular matrix that can be tailored to meet environmental demands. Although common developmental stages leading to biofilm formation have been described, how the extracellular components are organized to allow three-dimensional biofilm development is not well understood. Here we ...

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is known to play important roles in regulating neuronal recovery from injury. The ECM can also impact physiological synaptic plasticity, although this process is less well understood. To understand the impact of the ECM on synaptic function and remodeling in vivo, we examined ECM composition and proteolysis in a well-established model of experience-dependent plast...

Angiogenesis is a highly regulated event involving complex, dynamic interactions between microvascular endothelial cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Alteration of ECM composition and architecture is a hallmark feature of wound clot and tumor stroma. We previously reported that during angiogenesis, endothelial cell responses to growth factors are modulated by the compositional and m...

How intracellular cytoskeletal and signaling proteins connect and communicate with the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a fundamental question in cell biology. Recent biochemical, cell biological, and genetic studies have revealed important roles of cytoplasmic integrin-linked kinase (ILK) and its interactive proteins in these processes. Cell adhesion to ECM is an important process that controls c...

Completion of genome sequences for many organisms allows a reasonably complete definition of the complement of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. In mammals this "core matrisome" comprises ∼300 proteins. In addition there are large numbers of ECM-modifying enzymes, ECM-binding growth factors, and other ECM-associated proteins. These different categories of ECM and ECM-associated proteins coop...

Objectives The mechanisms of mental and neurological diseases have been proposed to be related not only disorders the neurons but also environment surrounding neurons, such as glial cells extracellular matrix (ECM). chondroitin sulfate (CS) chain, which comprises CS proteoglycans (CSPGs), is one major sulfated glycosaminoglycans in brain. CSPGs play an important role development, aging, patholo...

Background: Stem cell therapy has been developed as an effective treatment method for the heart failure. Also, extracellular matrix has shown the positive effects in stem cell differentiation and myocardial tissue organization. Cardiogel is a native cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from cardiac fibroblasts. In the present study the role of cardiogel is examin...

The dermis is largely composed of collagen-rich fibrils that form a dense extracellular matrix (ECM). Dermal fibroblasts produce and are embedded within the dermal ECM. During aging, ECM becomes fragmented. This fragmentation associated with deleterious alterations fibroblast function. We have investigated degree to which these stem from adaptation deterioration versus cell-autonomous age-drive...