The extracellular matrix and blood vessel formation: not just a scaffold.
The extracellular matrix plays a number of important roles, among them providing structural support and information to cellular structures such as blood vessels imbedded within it. As more complex organisms have evolved, the matrix ability to direct signalling towards the vasculature and remodel in response to signalling from the vasculature has assumed progressively greater importance. This review will focus on the molecules of the extracellular matrix, specifically relating to vessel formation and their ability to signal to the surrounding cells to initiate or terminate processes involved in blood vessel formation.
Rhodes
John M
JM
Angiogenesis Research Center, Section of Cardiology, Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology & Toxicology, Dartmouth Medical School, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
Simons
Michael
M
D000818:Animals; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic
D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins