The ExtraCellular Matrix: a focus on GlycosAminoGlycans and Hyaluronan

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a three-dimensional macromolecular network composed of structural proteins (collagens, elastin), adhesion/signalling proteins (fibronectin, laminins), different proteoglycans, glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). GAGs are structurally complex, but their structure is simply made up of repeating disaccharide building blocks composed of alternating uronic acid and hexosamine units. GAGs Read more…

Skin microbiota protects their host from oxidative stress through secreted antioxidant RoxP

Many skin diseases, including psoriasis and basal cell carcinoma, are associated with microbial dysbiosis characterized by reduced C. acnes prevalence. C. acnes is a facultative anaerobic bacterium that is frequently found on the human skin. This bacterium is both an opportunistic pathogen and a commensal organism. Indeed, most individuals are Read more…

Développement d’un modèle cérébral in vitro en 3 dimensions (présentation au congrès de la SCMC)

Véronique De Conto, doctorante chez HCS Pharma, présentera ce jeudi 28 mars à Lille, au congrès annuel de la Société Cerveau et Maladies Cérébrovasculaires, le développement d’un modèle cérébral en 3 dimensions incluant le microenvironnement matriciel pour la recherche de nouveaux médicaments contre la maladie de Parkinson. Introduction : 90% Read more…

The human skin microbiota could promote wound healing

Skin commensals are crucial in the maintenance of the epithelial barrier function, regulation of the host immune system, and prevent invasion of other pathogenic microbes.        In this article, published in September 2018, Burmeister et al show that Staphlylococcus, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, Corynebacterium, and anaerobes have both beneficial and harmful effects depending Read more…

New 3D iPSC-derived brain endothelial cell model (Faley, Niel, et al. 2019)

The neurovasculaire unit (NVU) is composed of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) that form the Blood-Brain-Barrier (BBB), pericytes, neurons and glial cells. It regulates substance transport between blood and brain. BBB and NVU dysfonctions are associated with numerous neurological pathologies. Animal models are traditionally used in medical research but the Read more…

Influence of the extracellular matrix on cancer cell proliferation and migration

Extracellular matrix (ECM) is known to have an influence on physiological processes and on tumour progression: ECM properties (composition, stiffness) modulate cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). For example, EMT is inhibited by laminin-rich environment whereas it is promoted in fibronectin-rich ECM (Chen et al 2013. Differentiation 86, Read more…