The mortar between the bricks: Damage to the ECM causes aged phenotypes
Sven Bulterijs
Heales vzw, Belgium
The Extracellular Matrix (ECM) functions as a structural scaffold to which cells adhere through cell-adhesion molecules, however it is not simply analogous to how mortar holds together bricks. The ECM has a wide diversity of roles in cell signaling and allows cells to migrate. Many of the proteins present in the ECM have very long half lives allowing molecular damage such as glycation, deamidation, carbamylation, oxidation, and racemization to accumulate with age leading to an impairment of its function. Furthermore, with age there is also a disbalance between synthesis and degradation of ECM molecules as well as increased deposition of lipids and calcium salts in the matrix.
Heales vzw, Belgium
The Extracellular Matrix (ECM) functions as a structural scaffold to which cells adhere through cell-adhesion molecules, however it is not simply analogous to how mortar holds together bricks. The ECM has a wide diversity of roles in cell signaling and allows cells to migrate. Many of the proteins present in the ECM have very long half lives allowing molecular damage such as glycation, deamidation, carbamylation, oxidation, and racemization to accumulate with age leading to an impairment of its function. Furthermore, with age there is also a disbalance between synthesis and degradation of ECM molecules as well as increased deposition of lipids and calcium salts in the matrix.
