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The Extracellular Matrix

The Extracellular Matrix

The Extracellular Matrix

The 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...

Extracellular Matrix

Extracellular 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...

Overview of Cell-Matrix Interactions

Overview 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...

Humoral Immune Responses

Humoral Immune Responses

What is the Immune System?

What is the Immune System?

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Tunable Hydrogels from Pulmonary Extracellular Matrix for 3D Cell Culture

Tunable Hydrogels from Pulmonary Extracellular Matrix for 3D Cell Culture

Published on: January 17, 2017

Pulmonary immunity and extracellular matrix interactions.

David N O'Dwyer¹, Stephen J Gurczynski¹, Bethany B Moore²

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, USA.

Matrix Biology : Journal of the International Society for Matrix Biology

|April 13, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The lung

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Last Updated: Feb 12, 2026

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Area of Science:

Immunology and matrix biology

Background:

The lung has a complex immune system involving innate and adaptive cells.
The lung's extracellular matrix regulates immune cell recognition of infection and injury.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the relationship between the lung extracellular matrix and immune responses.
To understand how matrix proteins influence innate and adaptive immunity in the lung.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on lung extracellular matrix and immunity.
Discussion of interactions between matrix proteins (e.g., glycosaminoglycans) and immune signaling (e.g., toll-like receptors).
Examination of matrix protein roles in leukocyte migration.

Main Results:

Extracellular matrix proteins modulate innate immune signaling pathways.
Matrix components influence adaptive immunity and leukocyte trafficking to lung injury sites.

Conclusions:

Matrix biology is integral to lung immunity.
Understanding matrix-immunity interactions is vital for developing new therapies for lung diseases.