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Review
. 2016;2(3):197-206.
doi: 10.1007/s40778-016-0056-2. Epub 2016 Jul 7.

Extracellular Matrix Regulation of Stem Cell Behavior

Maqsood Ahmed  1 , Charles Ffrench-Constant  1
Affiliations
Review

Extracellular Matrix Regulation of Stem Cell Behavior

Maqsood Ahmed et al. Curr Stem Cell Rep. 2016.

Abstract

Stem cells hold great promise in treating many diseases either through promoting endogenous cell repair or through direct cell transplants. In order to maximize their potential, understanding the fundamental signals and mechanisms that regulate their behavior is essential. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is one such component involved in mediating stem cell fate. Recent studies have made significant progress in understanding stem cell-ECM interactions. Technological developments have provided greater clarity in how cells may sense and respond to the ECM, in particular the physical properties of the matrix. This review summarizes recent developments, providing illustrative examples of the different modes with which the ECM controls both embryonic and adult stem cell behavior.

Keywords: Extracellular matrix; Microenvironment; Regeneration; Stem cell niche; Stem cells.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

Maqsood Ahmed and Charles ffrench-Constant declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and animal rights and informed consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
An overview of the extracellular matrix functions—direct, indirect, and biophysical—in stem cell niches distributed throughout the body. a In the adult epidermal stem cell niche, the basement membrane consists of laminin 332 and 511. When the precise ratio of laminin isoform is disrupted, BMP signaling is suppressed whilst TGFβ and Wnt signaling is amplified resulting in differentiation of the stem cells and niche depletion demonstrating the importance of matrix stoichiometry. b In the developing brain, β1-integrin signaling promotes Wnt7a secretion which acts non-cell autonomously to promote neurogenesis via decorin. c Bone marrow progenitor cells exposed to different biophysical environments differentiate in a stiffness-dependent manner with adipocytes generated on soft substrates and osteoblasts on stiff substrates. d After injury, muscle stem cells secrete fibronectin which acts autologously to promote stem cell expansion by binding to its receptor syndecan-4 and forming a complex with the Wnt receptor, Fzd7, and its ligand Wnt7a. In this way, fibronectin potentiates Wnt signaling
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