What is the role of the ECM in tissue repair?
Historically, the ECM has been viewed as a passive support structure upon which cells orient and move themselves in response to other cells. However, the ECM has a much larger interactive role. Functionally, the ECM can also regulate: • cell adhesion • cell division • cell differentiation • cell migration All of these processes occur through interaction of the various components of the ECM with the cell surface. These interactions allow the cells to bind to the ECM, subsequently causing the cells to proceed through the aforementioned activities. Essentially, the ECM is necessary to coordinate the activities of the cells that reside within it. As the ECM is necessary for tissue maintenance, the ECM also plays a major role in tissue repair. A functional ECM is central to normal tissue repair. Without a functional ECM, tissue repair is stalled, as the ECM is no longer able to support the normal cellular processes necessary for tissue repair.
