Both skin and oral mucosa are characterized by the presence of keratinized epithelium in
direct apposition to an underlying collagen-dense connective tissue. Despite significant …

Adult human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs), the most abundant cells in the oral cavity, are
essential for maintaining oral homeostasis. Compared with other tissues, adult oral mucosal …

Periostin, identified as a matricellular protein and an ECM protein, plays a central role in non-
neoplastic diseases. Periostin and its variants have been considered to be normally …

The matrix stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is the slow elastic force on cells,
has gradually become investigated. And a higher stiffness could induce changes in cell …

Although the matricellular protein periostin is prominently upregulated in skin and gingival
healing, it plays contrasting roles in myofibroblast differentiation and matrix synthesis …

Previously, based on a DNA microarray experiment, we identified a 96-gene prognostic
signature associated with the shorter survival of ovarian cancer patients. We hypothesized …

Matricellular proteins (MCPs) are defined as extracellular matrix (ECM) associated proteins
that are important regulators and integrators of microenvironmental signals, contributing to …

In healthy individuals, the healing of soft tissues such as skin after pathological insult or post
injury follows a relatively predictable and defined series of cell and molecular processes to …

The formation of bone in a bone defect is accomplished by osteoblasts, while the over
activation of fibroblasts promotes fibrosis. However, it is not clear how the extracellular …

Ligamentum flavum (LF) hypertrophy is a major cause of lumbar spinal canal stenosis.
Although mechanical stress is thought to be a major factor involved in LF hypertrophy, the …