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Review
. 2011 Apr 1;3(4):a005124.
doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a005124.

Cell-extracellular matrix interactions in normal and diseased skin

Fiona M Watt  1 , Hironobu Fujiwara
Affiliations
Review

Cell-extracellular matrix interactions in normal and diseased skin

Fiona M Watt et al. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. .

Abstract

Mammalian skin comprises a multi-layered epithelium, the epidermis, and an underlying connective tissue, the dermis. The epidermal extracellular matrix is a basement membrane, whereas the dermal ECM comprises fibrillar collagens and associated proteins. There is considerable heterogeneity in ECM composition within both epidermis and dermis. The functional significance of this extends beyond cell adhesion to a range of cell autonomous and nonautonomous processes, including control of epidermal stem cell fate. In skin, cell-ECM interactions influence normal homeostasis, aging, wound healing, and disease. Disturbed integrin and ECM signaling contributes to both tumor formation and fibrosis. Strategies for manipulating cell-ECM interactions to repair skin defects and intervene in a variety of skin diseases hold promise for the future.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Different layers of mammalian skin. IFE: interfollicular epidermis; HF: hair follicle; SG: sebaceous gland; BM: basement membrane; DP: dermal papilla; APM: arrector pili muscle.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Heterogeneity of dermal ECM. Adult human and mouse skin stained with Herovici’s picropolychrome stain. Highly cross-linked collagen in the reticular dermis (RD) stains purple, whereas collagen in the papillary dermis (PD) stains blue. The papillary dermis is thinner in mouse than human skin. Scale bar: 100 µm.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Epidermal basement membrane heterogeneity in adult mouse skin. The laminin (LM) α5 and α3 chains are expressed ubiquitously, whereas the α1 chain is most abundant in the interfollicular epidermis (IFE) and the α2 and α4 chains are most abundant in the hair follicle (HF). Note focal deposition of the α2 and α4 chains in the interfollicular epidermis (closed arrowheads). Nephronectin is specifically expressed in the bulge (open arrowhead), which also expresses keratin 15 (red), and also in the arrector pili muscle. Blue staining is DAPI nuclear counterstain. *Indicates nonspecific labeling of the outermost epidermal layers. SG: sebaceous gland. Scale bar: 100 µm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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