"Matricellular proteins: “Tweaking” tissue regeneration events through regulation of the biomechanics of cell-matrix interactions"
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Matricellular proteins are a class of extracellular matrix proteins that, while do not provide structural cues like their cousins fibronectin, laminin and collagen, have a profound impact on how cells “sense” their extracellular environment.  In a classical experimentation, these proteins have all displayed the capacity to regulate cell-matrix adhesivity to their underlying matrix and thus have been shown to impact cellular events such as cell proliferation and cell migration.  In general all members of this class of ECM proteins have displayed the capacity to drive cells toward what is known as an intermediate state of adhesion, through the active disassembly of focal adhesions, the “feet” of the cell.  In this alternative state cells display higher rates of migration, proliferation, and altered ECM organization.  I will discuss recent discoveries in the molecular mechanisms of action for one family of matricellular proteins, SPARC, and how these mechanisms of action impact biomaterial/biosensor design and tissue engineering applications through regulation of tissue fibrosis, the excessive secretion of ECM.