title: Extracellular matrix alters epithelial differentiation.
abstract: Extracellular matrix (ECM) induces and maintains the differentiation of epithelial cells, not by totally altering their state of differentiation, but by activating overt differentiation. Recent studies of cultured mammary cells provide an elegant molecular analysis of this kind of progressive cell differentiation. Other studies show that ECM can not only activate and enhance a differentiated state, but can even alter it in bringing about transformation of epithelium to mesenchyme.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Boston.
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Hay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002364:Caseins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002417:Cattle; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D005782:Gels; D006728:Hormones; D003094:Collagen