The Extracellular Matrix An Overview

Knowledge of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is essential to understand cellular differentiation, tissue development, and tissue remodeling. This volume of the series “Biology of Extracellular Matrix” provides a timely overview of the structure, regulation, and function of the major macromolecules that make up the extracellular matrix. It covers topics such as collagen types and assembly of collagen-containing suprastructures, basement membrane, fibronectin and other cell-adhesive glycoproteins, proteoglycans, microfibrils, elastin, fibulins and matricellular proteins, such as thrombospondin. It also explores the concept that ECM components together with their cell surface receptors can be viewed as intricate nano-devices that allow cells to physically organize their 3-D-environment. Further, the role of the ECM in human disease and pathogenesis is discussed as well as the use of model organisms in elucidating ECM function.

In most tissues, cells are surrounded by an extracellular matrix (ECM) containing proteins such as collagen, laminin, and fibronectin. The ECM plays an important role in regulating cell function. ECM proteins bind to integrins and other cell surface receptors, activating signaling pathways that regulate cellular morphology, adhesion, cell migration, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Written and edited by experts in the field, this collection from Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology covers all aspects of ECM composition and function, as well as alterations in the ECM that occur during development, tumorigenesis, and other disease states. The contributors examine the various ECM proteins and proteoglycans, ECM receptors such as integrins, and the signaling pathways that mediate the effects of the ECM on cells. They also describe ECM functions in specific biological contexts, including angiogenesis, hemostasis, and thrombosis. Covering not only the biochemistry and cell biology of the ECM but also its roles in development, physiology, and pathology, this volume is an indispensable reference for cell biologists and all those interested in exploring the myriad functions of the ECM.

Over the last decades cell biology and biological chemistry have increasingly turned their attention to the space between cells and revealed an elaborate network of macromolecules essential for structural support, cell adhesion and signaling. This comprehensive handbook of the extracellular matrix will give an overview of the current state of knowledge of matrix components (structure and function), their role in heath and disease (matrix pathobiology) and new aspects related to pharmacological targeting. It will provide an introduction to the extracellular matrix and detailed sections and chapters on: Importance of extracellular matrix in health and disease Matrix proteoglycans (aggrecan, versican, perlecan, SLRPs, syndecans, glypicans, serglycin) Matrix proteinases (remodeling, would healing, regulatory roles in health and disease, metalloproteinases, cystein proteases, plasmin and plasminogen activator system) Glycobiology (hyaluronan and sulfated glycosaminoglycans in cancer, inflammation and metabolic control) Collagens (supramolecular assembly, proteins binding collagen, scaffolds, bacterial and mutated collagens, procollagen proteinases) Cell surface receptors (integrins, syndecans, mechanical strain and TGFb, CD44 and DDR). Biotechnological and pharmacological outlook (matrix regulation by growth factors, hyaluronidases, pathobiology, disease targeting, delivery systems, EMT and proteomics). "The book Extracellular Matrix: Pathobiology and Signaling provides a comprehensive and up to date collection of very relevant topics for understanding the various facets of extracellular matrix and its interactions with cells in normal tissue as well as in disease. It represents the current front-line and will serve as a reference for extracellular matrix and posttranslational modifications." Dick Heinegård, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Section Rheumatology, Lund University, Sweden

Knowledge of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is essential to understand cellular differentiation, tissue development, and tissue remodeling. This volume of the series “Biology of Extracellular Matrix” provides a timely overview of the structure, regulation, and function of the major macromolecules that make up the extracellular matrix. It covers topics such as collagen types and assembly of collagen-containing suprastructures, basement membrane, fibronectin and other cell-adhesive glycoproteins, proteoglycans, microfibrils, elastin, fibulins and matricellular proteins, such as thrombospondin. It also explores the concept that ECM components together with their cell surface receptors can be viewed as intricate nano-devices that allow cells to physically organize their 3-D-environment. Further, the role of the ECM in human disease and pathogenesis is discussed as well as the use of model organisms in elucidating ECM function.

Extracellular Matrix Genes provides some of the interesting complexities of the structure of the entire family of extracellular matrix genes. This book illustrates the permanent role that molecular biology and molecular genetics play in the detailed understanding of the normal biology of extracellular matrix. Organized into 10 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the structural and sequence aspects of the entire family of genomic sequences with a view to establishing common functional domains among collagens and their genes. This text then examines the status of the literature concerning human types. III and V. Other chapters consider the FACIT collagen gene family. This book discusses as well the development in understanding the structure of small proteoglycan core proteins and their role in proteoglycan biosynthesis and function as a result of their molecular cloning and expression. The final chapter deals with mutations in collagen genes. This book is a valuable resource for biochemists.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an ensemble of non-cellular components present within all tissues and organs of the human body. The ECM provides structural support for scaffolding cellular constituents and biochemical and biomechanical support for those events leading to tissue morphogenesis, differentiation and homeostasis. Essential components of all ECMs are water, proteins and polysaccharides. However, their composition, architecture and bioactivity greatly vary from tissue to tissue in relation to the specific role the ECM is required to assume. This book overviews the role of the ECM in different tissues and organs of the human body.

Using this book, the reader will gain a good foundation to the field complemented with a broad overview of characterisation, microfabrication and applications.