Age-dependent remodeling of connective tissue: role of fibronectin and laminin

J Labat-Robert - Pathologie Biologie, 2003 - Elsevier
Connective tissues differ from other tissues in their more abundant extracellular matrix
(ECM). This matrix is composed of a relatively large number of macromolecules interacting
with each other as well as with the cells they are surrounding. Such cells, fibroblasts,
chondrocytes and others, secrete the macromolecules of ECM according to a genetically
and environmentally regulated “program”. It appeared recently that one type of
macromolecular interactions is characterized by the selective cleavage of some of the ECM …