The concept of a matricellular protein was first proposed by Paul Bornstein in the mid-1990s
to account for the non-lethal phenotypes of mice with inactivated genes encoding …

Elastic fibres are insoluble components of the extracellular matrix of dynamic connective
tissues such as skin, arteries, lungs and ligaments. They are laid down during development …

Macrophages sense changes in the extracellular matrix environment through the integrins
and play a central role in regulation of the reparative response after myocardial infarction …

Abstract Fibrillin-1 and fibrillin-2 are large cysteine-rich glycoproteins that serve two key
physiological functions: as supporting structures that impart tissue integrity and as regulators …

The fibulin family of extracellular matrix/matricellular proteins is composed of long fibulins
(fibulin-1,-2,-6) and short fibulins (fibulin-3,-4,-5,-7) and is involved in protein–protein …

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a disabling disorder in women characterized by a loss of
pelvic floor support leading to the herniation of the uterus into or through the vagina. POP is …

Elastin fibers are predominantly composed of the secreted monomer tropoelastin. This
protein assembly confers elasticity to all vertebrate elastic tissues including arteries, lung …

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a highly metastatic disease that resists most
current therapies. A defining characteristic of PDA is an intense fibrotic response that …

Interactions between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cells are critical in embryonic
development, tissue homeostasis, physiological remodeling, and tumorigenesis …

Introduction Although stem cell therapy is a promising treatment for myocardial infarction, the
minimal functional improvements observed clinically limit its widespread application. A need …