The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an integral component of all organs and plays a pivotal role in tissue homeostasis and repair. ECM actively supports and maintains the dynamic interplay between tissue compartments as well as embedded resident and recruited inflammatory cells in response to pathologic stimuli. The inflammation process involves a local cellular response with the activation immune cells.

Thus, immune cells are one of the most important regulators of ECM degradation, synthesis, assembly and remodeling. Mechanisms by which immune cells accomplish this include :

  • Synthesis of enzymes that remodel ECM components
  • Synthesis of cytokines and growth factors that induce ECM synthesis or degradation
  • Synthesis of ECM components.

Immune cells play a critical role in modulating ECM dynamics during normal development and in disease states (Pfisterer et al., 2021), (Bhattacharjee et al., 2019).

A model summarizing the crosstalk between the ECM and immune cells in the skin diseases (image taken from previously cited article)

HCS Pharma has developed BIOMIMESYS®, a hyaluronic acid-based hydroscaffold which mimic the extracellular matrix. Feel free to contact us if you want more information about our technology!


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