Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
05:48
Tissue Engineering of Tumor Stromal Microenvironment with Application to Cancer Cell Invasion
Published on: March 18, 2014
Cell-extracellular matrix interactions in normal and diseased skin
Fiona M Watt1, Hironobu Fujiwara
1Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Fiona.watt@cancer.org.uk
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
|March 29, 2011
Summary
Mammalian skin
Area of Science:
- Dermatology and cell biology.
- Focuses on the skin's extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell interactions.
Background:
- Mammalian skin has two layers: epidermis and dermis, each with distinct extracellular matrix (ECM) compositions.
- The epidermal ECM is a basement membrane, while the dermal ECM contains collagens and associated proteins.
- ECM heterogeneity influences various skin processes, including stem cell fate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions in skin homeostasis, aging, wound healing, and disease.
- To investigate how ECM composition and signaling impact skin functions and pathologies.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of existing literature on skin biology, ECM composition, and cell-ECM signaling.
- Analysis of the functional significance of ECM heterogeneity in epidermal and dermal compartments.
Main Results:
- Skin's ECM is heterogeneous and crucial for cell adhesion and diverse cellular processes.
- Cell-ECM interactions regulate skin homeostasis, aging, wound healing, and disease development.
- Disrupted integrin and ECM signaling are implicated in skin tumor formation and fibrosis.
Conclusions:
- Cell-ECM interactions are fundamental to skin health and disease.
- Targeting these interactions offers potential therapeutic strategies for skin repair and disease intervention.
Related Concept Videos
01:42The Extracellular Matrix
In order to maintain tissue organization, many animal cells are surrounded by structural molecules that make up the extracellular matrix (ECM). Together, the molecules in the ECM maintain the structural integrity of tissue as well as the remarkable specific properties of certain tissues.Composition of the Extracellular MatrixThe extracellular matrix (ECM) is commonly composed of ground substance, a gel-like fluid, fibrous components, and many structurally and functionally diverse molecules.
01:29The Extracellular Matrix
Overview
In order to maintain tissue organization, many animal cells are surrounded by structural molecules that make up the extracellular matrix (ECM). Together, the molecules in the ECM maintain the structural integrity of tissue as well as the remarkable specific properties of certain tissues.
Composition of the Extracellular Matrix
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is commonly composed of ground substance, a gel-like fluid, fibrous components, and many structurally and functionally diverse...
In order to maintain tissue organization, many animal cells are surrounded by structural molecules that make up the extracellular matrix (ECM). Together, the molecules in the ECM maintain the structural integrity of tissue as well as the remarkable specific properties of certain tissues.
Composition of the Extracellular Matrix
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is commonly composed of ground substance, a gel-like fluid, fibrous components, and many structurally and functionally diverse...
01:26Extracellular Matrix
Unlike epithelial tissue, which is composed of cells closely packed with little or no extracellular space in between, connective tissue cells are dispersed in a matrix. This extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of fibrous proteins like collagen, elastin, and fibronectin in a ground substance consisting of interstitial fluid, cell adhesion proteins, and proteoglycans. The proteoglycans form a gel-like material in the spaces between cells and provide hydration, buffering, binding, and force...
01:24Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions
The extracellular matrix or ECM holds cells together to form a tissue and allows the cells within the tissue to communicate. ECM comprises proteins such as fibronectin, collagen, laminin, etc. The most abundant protein in this space is collagen. Collagen fibers are interwoven with carbohydrate-containing protein molecules called proteoglycans. ECM allows cell migration and provides a structural scaffold at cell adhesion that anchors the cell when the extracellular matrix proteins interact with...
01:12Renewal of Skin Epidermal Stem Cells
The skin is divided into epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, the skin's outermost, middle, and inner layers. The human epidermal layer regularly undergoes renewal, where old, dead cells are replaced by new cells. Epidermal stem cells or EpiSCs divide and differentiate to restore the lost cells. For the renewal process, some EpiSCs continuously self-renew. In contrast, few others differentiate into transit-amplifying cells, which later form prickle or spinous cells, followed by granular cells,...
01:19Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells
Epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs) are mainly located at the basal layer of the epidermis. These cells repair minor injuries of the skin and replace dead skin cells. However, EpiSCs’ cannot heal severe wounds such as major burns or those from diabetes or hereditary disorders. In such cases, culturing the epidermal stem cells from the patient is possible and has yielded successful treatment options, such as laboratory-grown skin grafts. These grafts are synthesized using a patient’s own EpiSCs...