Matrix biology: past, present and future

Matrix biology (the biology of extracellular matrix) is a relatively recent branch of biomedical sciences and comprises a number of subspecialties. From molecular-cell biology, biochemistry, genetics and clinical science of diseases localised at or affecting the matrix rich tissues (connective tissues) as bone, cartilage, vessel wall, skin, eye and some others. The rapid expansion of all these branches of matrix biology is the combined result of the availability of advanced methods of cell and molecular biology and the increasing awareness of the importance of this field for a number of basic and applied sciences. This introduction is a review for the special issue of Pathologie Biologie devoted to 'Matrix Biology' and brushes an impressionistic landscape of the major advances accomplished over the finishing century and tries to predict some of the most important advances to be expected during the coming century.