The nature and biology of basement membranes

Ambra Pozzi; Peter D Yurchenco; Renato V Iozzo

doi:10.1016/j.matbio.2016.12.009

The nature and biology of basement membranes

Matrix Biol. 2017 Jan:57-58:1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.matbio.2016.12.009. Epub 2016 Dec 28.

Authors

Ambra Pozzi¹, Peter D Yurchenco², Renato V Iozzo³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Veterans Affairs Hospitals, Nashville, TN, United States. Electronic address: ambra.pozzi@vanderbilt.edu.
² Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, United States.
³ Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology and the Cancer Cell Biology and Signaling Program, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

Abstract

Basement membranes are delicate, nanoscale and pliable sheets of extracellular matrices that often act as linings or partitions in organisms. Previously considered as passive scaffolds segregating polarized cells, such as epithelial or endothelial cells, from the underlying mesenchyme, basement membranes have now reached the center stage of biology. They play a multitude of roles from blood filtration to muscle homeostasis, from storing growth factors and cytokines to controlling angiogenesis and tumor growth, from maintaining skin integrity and neuromuscular structure to affecting adipogenesis and fibrosis. Here, we will address developmental, structural and biochemical aspects of basement membranes and discuss some of the pathogenetic mechanisms causing diseases linked to abnormal basement membranes.

Keywords: Collagen; Discoidin domain receptor; Heparan sulfate proteoglycan; Integrin; Laminin.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Agrin / genetics
Agrin / metabolism
Animals
Basement Membrane / metabolism*
Basement Membrane / pathology
Bone Diseases, Developmental / genetics*
Bone Diseases, Developmental / metabolism
Bone Diseases, Developmental / pathology
Collagen Type IV / genetics
Collagen Type IV / metabolism
Diabetic Nephropathies / genetics*
Diabetic Nephropathies / metabolism
Diabetic Nephropathies / pathology
Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
Extracellular Matrix / pathology
Gene Expression Regulation
Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans / chemistry
Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans / metabolism*
Humans
Laminin / genetics
Laminin / metabolism
Lupus Nephritis / genetics*
Lupus Nephritis / metabolism
Lupus Nephritis / pathology
Mechanotransduction, Cellular
Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
Mutation*
Protein Isoforms / genetics
Protein Isoforms / metabolism

Substances

Agrin
Collagen Type IV
Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans
Laminin
Membrane Glycoproteins
Protein Isoforms
nidogen

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding