ijms-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Matricellular Proteins: Modifiers of Cell Behavior in Development, Disease & Tissue Remodeling

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 June 2021) | Viewed by 21798

Special Issue Editors

Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
Interests: non-healing skin wounds; the adhesion, migration, proliferation and differentiation of immune cells
The University of Oxford, UK
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
1. Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue NB50, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
2. Department of Molecular Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
Interests: breast cancer; diabetes; metabolism; obesity; insulin resistance; hyperglycemia; cancer microenvironment; inflammation; immunity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Matricellular proteins were first described by the Bornstein group in 1995. Since then, they have become a major focus of research in the area of extracellular matrix and cell biology. As a class of matrix proteins, matricellular proteins are characterized by their ability to modify the cell phenotype in health and disease and have been implicated in numerous cancer types, acute healing, and fibrosis. Matricellular proteins are important during development, but are typically restricted to tissue remodeling, wound repair, and remodeling in the normal adult. Matricellular proteins interact with cell surface receptors, such as integrins, and are able to bind growth factors as well as the structural components of the matrix, such as collagen. Galectins, tenascins, thrombospondins, SPARC, osteopontin, hevin, periostin, and bone sialoprotein are all classed as matricellular proteins, each with varying functions. Gene-deletion technology has shown that matricellular proteins have very specific functions, and few compensatory effects are evident. Indeed, the deletion of most matricellular proteins only becomes apparent after wounding of tissues in mice. Therefore, it appears that matricellular proteins are essential to the tissue response to pathological insults.

Assoc. Prof. Douglas Hamilton
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

14 pages, 3630 KiB  
Article
Periostin Is Required for the Maintenance of Muscle Fibers during Muscle Regeneration
by Naoki Ito, Yuko Miyagoe-Suzuki, Shin’ichi Takeda and Akira Kudo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(7), 3627; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22073627 - 31 Mar 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2698
Abstract
Skeletal muscle regeneration is a well-organized process that requires remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we revealed the protective role of periostin, a matricellular protein that binds to several ECM proteins during muscle regeneration. In intact muscle, periostin was localized [...] Read more.
Skeletal muscle regeneration is a well-organized process that requires remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we revealed the protective role of periostin, a matricellular protein that binds to several ECM proteins during muscle regeneration. In intact muscle, periostin was localized at the neuromuscular junction, muscle spindle, and myotendinous junction, which are connection sites between muscle fibers and nerves or tendons. During muscle regeneration, periostin exhibited robustly increased expression and localization at the interstitial space. Periostin-null mice showed decreased muscle weight due to the loss of muscle fibers during repeated muscle regeneration. Cultured muscle progenitor cells from periostin-null mice showed no deficiencies in their proliferation, differentiation, and the expression of Pax7, MyoD, and myogenin, suggesting that the loss of muscle fibers in periostin-null mice was not due to the impaired function of muscle stem/progenitor cells. Periostin-null mice displayed a decreased number of CD31-positive blood vessels during muscle regeneration, suggesting that the decreased nutritional supply from blood vessels was the cause of muscle fiber loss in periostin-null mice. These results highlight the novel role of periostin in maintaining muscle mass during muscle regeneration. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

32 pages, 979 KiB  
Review
Functions of Matricellular Proteins in Dental Tissues and Their Emerging Roles in Orofacial Tissue Development, Maintenance, and Disease
by Georgia Nikoloudaki
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(12), 6626; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22126626 - 21 Jun 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3122
Abstract
Matricellular proteins (MCPs) are defined as extracellular matrix (ECM) associated proteins that are important regulators and integrators of microenvironmental signals, contributing to the dynamic nature of ECM signalling. There is a growing understanding of the role of matricellular proteins in cellular processes governing [...] Read more.
Matricellular proteins (MCPs) are defined as extracellular matrix (ECM) associated proteins that are important regulators and integrators of microenvironmental signals, contributing to the dynamic nature of ECM signalling. There is a growing understanding of the role of matricellular proteins in cellular processes governing tissue development as well as in disease pathogenesis. In this review, the expression and functions of different MP family members (periostin, CCNs, TSPs, SIBLINGs and others) are presented, specifically in relation to craniofacial development and the maintenance of orofacial tissues, including bone, gingiva, oral mucosa, palate and the dental pulp. As will be discussed, each MP family member has been shown to have non-redundant roles in development, tissue homeostasis, wound healing, pathology and tumorigenesis of orofacial and dental tissues. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 978 KiB  
Review
Tenascin-C in Heart Diseases—The Role of Inflammation
by Kyoko Imanaka-Yoshida
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(11), 5828; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22115828 - 29 May 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3739
Abstract
Tenascin-C (TNC) is a large extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoprotein and an original member of the matricellular protein family. TNC is transiently expressed in the heart during embryonic development, but is rarely detected in normal adults; however, its expression is strongly up-regulated with inflammation. [...] Read more.
Tenascin-C (TNC) is a large extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoprotein and an original member of the matricellular protein family. TNC is transiently expressed in the heart during embryonic development, but is rarely detected in normal adults; however, its expression is strongly up-regulated with inflammation. Although neither TNC-knockout nor -overexpressing mice show a distinct phenotype, disease models using genetically engineered mice combined with in vitro experiments have revealed multiple significant roles for TNC in responses to injury and myocardial repair, particularly in the regulation of inflammation. In most cases, TNC appears to deteriorate adverse ventricular remodeling by aggravating inflammation/fibrosis. Furthermore, accumulating clinical evidence has shown that high TNC levels predict adverse ventricular remodeling and a poor prognosis in patients with various heart diseases. Since the importance of inflammation has attracted attention in the pathophysiology of heart diseases, this review will focus on the roles of TNC in various types of inflammatory reactions, such as myocardial infarction, hypertensive fibrosis, myocarditis caused by viral infection or autoimmunity, and dilated cardiomyopathy. The utility of TNC as a biomarker for the stratification of myocardial disease conditions and the selection of appropriate therapies will also be discussed from a clinical viewpoint. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1940 KiB  
Review
Role of Matricellular CCN Proteins in Skeletal Muscle: Focus on CCN2/CTGF and Its Regulation by Vasoactive Peptides
by Daniela L. Rebolledo, María José Acuña and Enrique Brandan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(10), 5234; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22105234 - 15 May 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3264
Abstract
The Cellular Communication Network (CCN) family of matricellular proteins comprises six proteins that share conserved structural features and play numerous biological roles. These proteins can interact with several receptors or soluble proteins, regulating cell signaling pathways in various tissues under physiological and pathological [...] Read more.
The Cellular Communication Network (CCN) family of matricellular proteins comprises six proteins that share conserved structural features and play numerous biological roles. These proteins can interact with several receptors or soluble proteins, regulating cell signaling pathways in various tissues under physiological and pathological conditions. In the skeletal muscle of mammals, most of the six CCN family members are expressed during embryonic development or in adulthood. Their roles during the adult stage are related to the regulation of muscle mass and regeneration, maintaining vascularization, and the modulation of skeletal muscle fibrosis. This work reviews the CCNs proteins’ role in skeletal muscle physiology and disease, focusing on skeletal muscle fibrosis and its regulation by Connective Tissue Growth factor (CCN2/CTGF). Furthermore, we review evidence on the modulation of fibrosis and CCN2/CTGF by the renin-angiotensin system and the kallikrein-kinin system of vasoactive peptides. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

30 pages, 1694 KiB  
Review
Functions of Thrombospondin-1 in the Tumor Microenvironment
by Sukhbir Kaur, Steven M. Bronson, Dipasmita Pal-Nath, Thomas W. Miller, David R. Soto-Pantoja and David D. Roberts
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(9), 4570; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22094570 - 27 Apr 2021
Cited by 62 | Viewed by 7986
Abstract
The identification of thrombospondin-1 as an angiogenesis inhibitor in 1990 prompted interest in its role in cancer biology and potential as a therapeutic target. Decreased thrombospondin-1 mRNA and protein expression are associated with progression in several cancers, while expression by nonmalignant cells in [...] Read more.
The identification of thrombospondin-1 as an angiogenesis inhibitor in 1990 prompted interest in its role in cancer biology and potential as a therapeutic target. Decreased thrombospondin-1 mRNA and protein expression are associated with progression in several cancers, while expression by nonmalignant cells in the tumor microenvironment and circulating levels in cancer patients can be elevated. THBS1 is not a tumor suppressor gene, but the regulation of its expression in malignant cells by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes mediates some of their effects on carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis. In addition to regulating angiogenesis and perfusion of the tumor vasculature, thrombospondin-1 limits antitumor immunity by CD47-dependent regulation of innate and adaptive immune cells. Conversely, thrombospondin-1 is a component of particles released by immune cells that mediate tumor cell killing. Thrombospondin-1 differentially regulates the sensitivity of malignant and nonmalignant cells to genotoxic stress caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The diverse activities of thrombospondin-1 to regulate autophagy, senescence, stem cell maintenance, extracellular vesicle function, and metabolic responses to ischemic and genotoxic stress are mediated by several cell surface receptors and by regulating the functions of several secreted proteins. This review highlights progress in understanding thrombospondin-1 functions in cancer and the challenges that remain in harnessing its therapeutic potential. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop