The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the non-cellular component of tissue. Its composition and structure can vary between different tissues. The ECM transmits biochemical and biomechanical cues to the cells within it, ensuring tissue homeostasis. The ECM is a dynamic structure whose composition and organization can be modified as in the Read more…
The extracellular components of the skin can be divided into fiber-forming structural molecules, nonfiber-forming structural molecules, and “matricellular proteins”. Optimal quantities of different matrix components and their delicate interactions are necessary to maintain normal physiologic properties of the skin. Fiber-forming molecules provide a structure to the ECM by creating a Read more…
Context It is well established that the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a central role in cell homeostasis and cell adhesion by providing support, promoting cell-to-cell communication and differentiation (or dedifferentiation and tumoral progression when the ECM is modified). The composition but also the stiffness and elasticity of the ECM have important Read more…
Soria et al. has published this year an interesting study about the modification leading by synucleopathy on the nanoscale organization and diffusivity of the extracellular space, through hyaluronan remodeling. Indeed the extracellular space (ECS), composed by the interstitial fluid and the extracellular matrix (ECM), plays several roles in health and Read more…
Parkinson’s disease affects more than 6 million people worldwide. This neurodegenerative disease is characterized by the death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, with intracellular accumulation of alpha-synuclein aggregates known as Lewi bodies. This neuronal loss leads to a decrease in the neurotransmitter dopamine that cause mainly Read more…
On the occasion of the breast cancer awareness month, HCS Pharma is willing to thank all researchers working in the field to better understand the pathophysiology of disease, with the objective to find more efficient anti-cancer therapies. We would like to warmly thank the researchers with whom we are collaborating Read more…
At the occasion of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to highlight the role of the interplay between the extracellular environment and the Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) on the tumoral development, including breast cancers. In our previous articles, we described the pro-tumoral effect of the extracellular environment. Moreover, an Read more…
The human brain contains approximately 86 billon neurons of different types, distributed and organized in different areas ; their functions vary according to the neuron type and its localization within the brain. However, the neuronal function also depends on its microenvironment, which is composed of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and Read more…
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of macromolecules surrounding the cells. They interact with each other and with the cells, cross-link and polymerize, ensuring the maintenance and the function of organs. The primary role of ECM is to support the cells by providing adhesion support, but its role goes beyond: Read more…
We are happy to tell you that HCS Pharma, SMMiL-E team (Seeding Microsystems in Medecine in Lille – European-Japanese Technologies against Cancer, CNRS UMI-2820 LIMMS/IIS) and Institut d’Electronique, de Micro-Electronique et de Nanotechnologie (IEMN) have successfully applied to a LabCom grant (‘COMmon LABoratory’)! A LabCom aims at gathering two entities Read more…
James W. Fawcett published the review « The extracellular matrix in plasticity and regeneration after CNS injury and neurodegenerative disease » in 2015, highlighting the key role of the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in brain plasticity. CSPGs are present in the brain extracellular matrix and Read more…
The annual congress of Biology and Health PhD students from Lille (André Verbert day) took place at the Faculty of Medicine Thursday, September 10th. During this day, PhD students, in third year of thesis, had to present their works by talks, flash-talks or posters. Our PhD student Véronique De Conto Read more…
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is known as a molecular network of macromolecules present in all solid tissues (Figure 1), which plays an important role in the growth, migration and differentiation of cells. This ECM is part of a complex and plastic microenvironment in health and disease: its composition and physical Read more…
In the continuity of our scientific reviews about the important roles of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) in extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell behavior, we herein present this recent review describing the structure – function relationship of HA. As an important polysaccharide of ECM, HA plays an important role in cell and Read more…
We will be present this week and next week in Rotterdam, to talk about 3D cell culture and the importance of the microenvironnement in the relevance of in vitro models. As you known, to mimic human tissues, several parameters need to be taken into account: the target cells, nutrient intake Read more…
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…
The 16th SFBMEC congress was held last week in Reims: Elodie and Zied attended the meeting to be aware of the last trends in extracellular matrix (ECM) research and industry and medical applications. And they were not disappointed! After a first touching lecture in memoriam of the late Ladislas Robert Read more…
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…
Sood et al. published in 2016 an interesting article about the effect of extracellular matrix (ECM) on in vitro neuronal cells culture: “Fetal brain extracellular matrix boosts neuronal network formation in 3D bioengineered model of cortical brain tissue “. The aim of the study was to study the effects of Read more…
In this article, researchers from Sorbonne University (Paris, France) proposed an explanation for the patterns followed by breast cancer cells when seeded in BIOMIMESYS, i.e. spherical aggregates. Usually, mathematical models dealing with the formation of patterns by cells in the extracellular matrix do not take into account the chemical environmental Read more…
The 2nd Edition of SLAS advanced 3D human models and High-Content Analysis Conference was a great event with interesting presentations and posters from public labs and various companies. In regards of the different presentations, it seems obvious that developing 3D cell culture models is essential to find new leads relevant Read more…
It is a great pleasure for us to welcome a new member in our scientific advisory board, Dr Samuel Meignan! He will for sure help us to develop relevant models related to oncology therapeutic area. Dr. Samuel Meignan is a senior researcher at the Inserm U908 laboratory ‘Cell Plasticity and Read more…
Next week, we will be in the beautiful city of Lyon to participate to Forum Labo with our partners Molecular Devices and INTEGRA Biosciences. In this event we will present our brand new BIOMIMESYS® technology for 3D cell culture on INTEGRA Biosciences’s booth (#B18). This is an unique and natural Read more…