The extracellular matrix and blood vessel formation: not just a scaffold

Abstract

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.

1

Effects on arteriogenesis by synectin disruption in mice. (A) Laser Doppler images of the time course of perfusion in hindlimbs of synectin wildtype (WT) and null (KO) mice (perfusion is indicated by colour where red > yellow > green > blue) (B) Quantitative analysis of laser Doppler images indicates significant alterations in hindlimb reperfusion immediate post and 14 days after femoral artery ligation in synectin null mice (black bars). Means +/- SEM, P < 0.05 from Chittenden et al. Dev. Cell. (2006), 10: 783–795.