Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Unit, Paterson Institute for Cancer Research and Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Matrix Research, University of Manchester, United Kingdom.
Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2011 Dec 1;3(12):a005058. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a005058.
The extracellular matrix (ECM) serves diverse functions and is a major component of the cellular microenvironment. The ECM is a highly dynamic structure, constantly undergoing a remodeling process where ECM components are deposited, degraded, or otherwise modified. ECM dynamics are indispensible during restructuring of tissue architecture. ECM remodeling is an important mechanism whereby cell differentiation can be regulated, including processes such as the establishment and maintenance of stem cell niches, branching morphogenesis, angiogenesis, bone remodeling, and wound repair. In contrast, abnormal ECM dynamics lead to deregulated cell proliferation and invasion, failure of cell death, and loss of cell differentiation, resulting in congenital defects and pathological processes including tissue fibrosis and cancer. Understanding the mechanisms of ECM remodeling and its regulation, therefore, is essential for developing new therapeutic interventions for diseases and novel strategies for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
细胞外基质 (ECM) 具有多种功能，是细胞微环境的主要组成部分。ECM 是一种高度动态的结构，其 ECM 成分不断经历沉积、降解或其他修饰的重塑过程。在组织架构的重构过程中，ECM 动力学是不可或缺的。ECM 重塑是调节细胞分化的重要机制，包括建立和维持干细胞龛、分支形态发生、血管生成、骨重塑和伤口修复等过程。相比之下，异常的 ECM 动力学导致细胞增殖和侵袭失控、细胞死亡失败以及细胞分化丧失，导致先天性缺陷和包括组织纤维化和癌症在内的病理过程。因此，了解 ECM 重塑及其调控的机制对于开发疾病的新治疗干预措施以及组织工程和再生医学的新策略至关重要。
