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Current Opinion in Nephrology and... May 2016Glomerular filtration occurs in specialized, microscopic organelles. Each glomerulus contains unique cells and these cooperate to maintain normal filtration. Phenomenal... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Glomerular filtration occurs in specialized, microscopic organelles. Each glomerulus contains unique cells and these cooperate to maintain normal filtration. Phenomenal adaptation is required for the glomerulus to respond to variable mechanical loads and this adaptation requires efficient communication between the resident cells. This review will focus on the latest discoveries related to signalling events that mediate the crosstalk between glomerular cells, and detail how disease processes can influence normal regulation.
RECENT FINDINGS
New data indicate that the crosstalk between glomerular cells involves an increasing number of secreted signalling ligands that act in an autocrine or paracrine fashion. Furthermore, extended roles for some of the classical signalling molecules have been described and there is emerging evidence of therapeutic strategies to manipulate cellular crosstalk. The glomerular extracellular matrix harbours many of these signalling ligands, acting as a reservoir and presenting ligands to cell surface receptors. Signals can also be transferred between cells by extracellular vesicles and this is an emerging concept in cellular crosstalk.
SUMMARY
Recent discoveries are building our understanding about glomerular cell crosstalk, and this review focuses on growth factors and signalling peptides, methods of delivery to target cells, and the potential for developing new therapies for glomerular disease.
Topics: Animals; Basement Membrane; Cell Communication; Extracellular Matrix; Humans; Kidney Diseases; Kidney Glomerulus; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 27027682
DOI: 10.1097/MNH.0000000000000221 -
Bioscience Reports Aug 2021Basement membranes (BMs) are highly specialised extracellular matrix (ECM) structures that within the heart underlie endothelial cells (ECs) and surround cardiomyocytes... (Review)
Review
Basement membranes (BMs) are highly specialised extracellular matrix (ECM) structures that within the heart underlie endothelial cells (ECs) and surround cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells. They generate a dynamic and structurally supportive environment throughout cardiac development and maturation by providing physical anchorage to the underlying interstitium, structural support to the tissue, and by influencing cell behaviour and signalling. While this provides a strong link between BM dysfunction and cardiac disease, the role of the BM in cardiac biology remains under-researched and our understanding regarding the mechanistic interplay between BM defects and their morphological and functional consequences remain important knowledge-gaps. In this review, we bring together emerging understanding of BM defects within the heart including in common cardiovascular pathologies such as contractile dysfunction and highlight some key questions that are now ready to be addressed.
Topics: Animals; Basement Membrane; Cell Differentiation; Cellular Microenvironment; Heart Diseases; Humans; Mechanotransduction, Cellular; Myocytes, Cardiac; Stress, Mechanical
PubMed: 34382650
DOI: 10.1042/BSR20204185 -
Open Biology Feb 2021The basement membrane (BM) is a special type of extracellular matrix that lines the basal side of epithelial and endothelial tissues. Functionally, the BM is important... (Review)
Review
The basement membrane (BM) is a special type of extracellular matrix that lines the basal side of epithelial and endothelial tissues. Functionally, the BM is important for providing physical and biochemical cues to the overlying cells, sculpting the tissue into its correct size and shape. In this review, we focus on recent studies that have unveiled the complex mechanical properties of the BM. We discuss how these properties can change during development, homeostasis and disease via different molecular mechanisms, and the subsequent impact on tissue form and function in a variety of organisms. We also explore how better characterization of BM mechanics can contribute to disease diagnosis and treatment, as well as development of better and models that not only impact the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, but can also reduce the use of animals in research.
Topics: Animals; Basement Membrane; Homeostasis; Humans; Mechanical Phenomena
PubMed: 33593159
DOI: 10.1098/rsob.200360 -
Cells Sep 2020Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a vascular disease that is characterized by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) due to progressive vascular remodeling.... (Review)
Review
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a vascular disease that is characterized by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) due to progressive vascular remodeling. Extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in pulmonary arteries (PA) is one of the key features of vascular remodeling. Emerging evidence indicates that the basement membrane (BM), a specialized cluster of ECM proteins underlying the endothelium, may be actively involved in the progression of vascular remodeling. The BM and its steady turnover are pivotal for maintaining appropriate vascular functions. However, the pathologically elevated turnover of BM components leads to an increased release of biologically active short fragments, which are called matrikines. Both BM components and their matrikines can interfere with pivotal biological processes, such as survival, proliferation, adhesion, and migration and thus may actively contribute to endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the emerging role of the BM and its matrikines on the vascular endothelium and further discuss its implications on lung vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension.
Topics: Basement Membrane; Extracellular Matrix; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary
PubMed: 32899187
DOI: 10.3390/cells9092029 -
Current Pharmaceutical Design 2009Basement membranes are sheet-like cell-adherent extracellular matrices that serve as cell substrata and solid-phase agonists, contributing to tissue organization,... (Review)
Review
Basement membranes are sheet-like cell-adherent extracellular matrices that serve as cell substrata and solid-phase agonists, contributing to tissue organization, stability and differentiation. These matrices are assembled as polymers of laminins and type IV collagens that are tethered to nidogens and proteoglycans. They bind to cell surface molecules that include signal-transducing receptors such as the integrins and dystroglycan and form attachments to adjacent connective tissues. The cell receptors, in turn, provide links between the matrix and underlying cytoskeleton. Genetic diseases of basement membrane and associated components, collectively the basement membrane zone, disrupt the extracellular matrix and/or its linkages to affect nerve, muscle, skin, kidney and other tissues. These diseases can arise due to a loss of matrix integrity, adhesion strength and/or receptor-mediated signaling. An understanding of the mechanisms of basement membrane zone assembly and resulting structure can provide insights into the development of normal tissues and the pathogenic mechanisms that underlie diverse disorders.
Topics: Agrin; Animals; Basement Membrane; Collagen; Extracellular Matrix Proteins; Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans; Humans; Laminin; Membrane Glycoproteins; Myelin Sheath; Neuromuscular Diseases; Stromal Cells
PubMed: 19355968
DOI: 10.2174/138161209787846766 -
Journal of Anatomy Aug 2019The structure and function of the skin relies on the complex expression pattern and organisation of extracellular matrix macromolecules, of which collagens are a... (Review)
Review
The structure and function of the skin relies on the complex expression pattern and organisation of extracellular matrix macromolecules, of which collagens are a principal component. The fibrillar collagens, types I and III, constitute over 90% of the collagen content within the skin and are the major determinants of the strength and stiffness of the tissue. However, the minor collagens also play a crucial regulatory role in a variety of processes, including cell anchorage, matrix assembly, and growth factor signalling. In this article, we review the expression patterns, key functions and involvement in disease pathogenesis of the minor collagens found in the skin. While it is clear that the minor collagens are important mediators of normal tissue function, homeostasis and repair, further insight into the molecular level structure and activity of these proteins is required for translation into clinical therapies.
Topics: Animals; Basement Membrane; Collagen; Dermis; Humans
PubMed: 31318053
DOI: 10.1111/joa.12584 -
Cell Adhesion & Migration 2014Basement membranes are thin sheets of self-assembled extracellular matrices that are essential for embryonic development and for the homeostasis of adult tissues. They... (Review)
Review
Basement membranes are thin sheets of self-assembled extracellular matrices that are essential for embryonic development and for the homeostasis of adult tissues. They play a role in structuring, protecting, polarizing, and compartmentalizing cells, as well as in supplying them with growth factors. All basement membranes are built from laminin and collagen IV networks stabilized by nidogen/perlecan bridges. The precise composition of basement membranes, however, varies between different tissues. Even though basement membranes represent physical barriers that delimit different tissues, they are breached in many physiological or pathological processes, including development, the immune response, and tumor invasion. Here, we provide a brief overview of the molecular composition of basement membranes and the process of their assembly. We will then illustrate the heterogeneity of basement membranes using two examples, the epithelial basement membrane in the gut and the vascular basement membrane. Finally, we examine the different strategies cells use to breach the basement membrane.
Topics: Animals; Basement Membrane; Cell Movement; Humans; Neoplasm Metastasis; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 24727304
DOI: 10.4161/cam.28733 -
Biomacromolecules Aug 2022Advancements in the field of tissue engineering have led to the elucidation of physical and chemical characteristics of physiological basement membranes (BM) as... (Review)
Review
Advancements in the field of tissue engineering have led to the elucidation of physical and chemical characteristics of physiological basement membranes (BM) as specialized forms of the extracellular matrix. Efforts to recapitulate the intricate structure and biological composition of the BM have encountered various advancements due to its impact on cell fate, function, and regulation. More attention has been paid to synthesizing biocompatible and biofunctional fibrillar scaffolds that closely mimic the natural BM. Specific modifications in biomimetic BM have paved the way for the development of models like alveolar-capillary barrier, airway models, skin, blood-brain barrier, kidney barrier, and metastatic models, which can be used for personalized drug screening, understanding physiological and pathological pathways, and tissue implants. In this Review, we focus on the structure, composition, and functions of BM and the ongoing efforts to mimic it synthetically. Light has been shed on the advantages and limitations of various forms of biomimetic BM scaffolds including porous polymeric membranes, hydrogels, and electrospun membranes This Review further elaborates and justifies the significance of BM mimics in tissue engineering, in particular in the development of organ model systems.
Topics: Basement Membrane; Cell Differentiation; Extracellular Matrix; Skin; Tissue Engineering; Tissue Scaffolds
PubMed: 35839343
DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00402 -
Journal of Cell Science May 2015Basement membranes are a dense, sheet-like form of extracellular matrix (ECM) that underlie epithelia and endothelia, and surround muscle, fat and Schwann cells.... (Review)
Review
Basement membranes are a dense, sheet-like form of extracellular matrix (ECM) that underlie epithelia and endothelia, and surround muscle, fat and Schwann cells. Basement membranes separate tissues and protect them from mechanical stress. Although traditionally thought of as a static support structure, a growing body of evidence suggests that dynamic basement membrane deposition and modification instructs coordinated cellular behaviors and acts mechanically to sculpt tissues. In this Commentary, we highlight recent studies that support the idea that far from being a passive matrix, basement membranes play formative roles in shaping tissues.
Topics: Animals; Basement Membrane; Cell Polarity; Collagen; Humans; Models, Biological; Organ Specificity
PubMed: 25717004
DOI: 10.1242/jcs.168021 -
Cells Jan 2022Every organ develops fibrosis that compromises functions in response to infections, injuries, or diseases. The cornea is a relatively simple, avascular organ that offers... (Review)
Review
Every organ develops fibrosis that compromises functions in response to infections, injuries, or diseases. The cornea is a relatively simple, avascular organ that offers an exceptional model to better understand the pathophysiology of the fibrosis response. Injury and defective regeneration of the epithelial basement membrane (EBM) or the endothelial Descemet's basement membrane (DBM) triggers the development of myofibroblasts from resident corneal fibroblasts and bone marrow-derived blood borne fibrocytes due to the increased entry of TGF beta-1/-2 into the stroma from the epithelium and tears or residual corneal endothelium and aqueous humor. The myofibroblasts, and disordered extracellular matrix these cells produce, persist until the source of injury is removed, the EBM and/or DBM are regenerated, or replaced surgically, resulting in decreased stromal TGF beta requisite for myofibroblast survival. A similar BM injury-related pathophysiology can underly the development of fibrosis in other organs such as skin and lung. The normal liver does not contain traditional BMs but develops sinusoidal endothelial BMs in many fibrotic diseases and models. However, normal hepatic stellate cells produce collagen type IV and perlecan that can modulate TGF beta localization and cognate receptor binding in the space of Dissé. BM-related fibrosis is deserving of more investigation in all organs.
Topics: Basement Membrane; Cornea; Fibrosis; Humans; Organ Specificity; Regeneration; Wound Healing
PubMed: 35053425
DOI: 10.3390/cells11020309