![]() ![]() The interstitial matrix or stroma is composed of threadlike fibrils that form a fibrous and porous network surrounding cells, whereas the basement membrane (basal lamina) has a sheet-like structure that serves as a platform for cells and a boundary between tissue compartments. Using scanning electron microscopy (EM), two major structural forms of ECM are visible within tissues ( Alberts et al. Delayed assembly underlies birth defects, chronic wounds, and skeletal malformations. Deranged assembly promotes scarring, tumorigenesis, and fibrotic disease. Why do we care about ECM assembly? Loss of assembly stops embryogenesis. Even so, the molecular events that assemble secreted ECM proteins into complex networks are still not completely understood. It shows exquisite tissue specificity and adapts to changes in age, development, and disease. ECM is a dynamic network, a reservoir for growth factors and fluids, and an essential organizer of tissues, cellular microenvironments, and stem cell niches. ![]() However, the old view of ECM as an inert scaffold is clearly incorrect. The extracellular matrix (ECM) has been recognized as an essential structural component in multicellular organisms for millennia ( Plato trans. ![]()
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