Editing Extracellular matrix (section)

{{short description|Network of proteins and molecules outside cells that provides structural support for cells}}
{{Infobox microanatomy
| Name        = Extracellular matrix
| Latin       = matrix extracellularis
| Image       = Extracellular Matrix.png
| Caption     = Illustration depicting extracellular matrix ([[basement membrane]] and interstitial matrix) in relation to [[epithelium]], [[endothelium]] and [[connective tissue]]
| Width       =
| Image2      =
| Caption2    =
| Acronym = ECM
}}
In [[biology]], the '''extracellular matrix''' ('''ECM'''),<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/matrix | title=Matrix - Definition and Examples - Biology Online Dictionary | date=24 December 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Body Tissues {{!}} SEER Training |url=https://training.seer.cancer.gov/anatomy/cells_tissues_membranes/tissues/ |website=training.seer.cancer.gov |access-date=12 January 2023}}</ref> also called intercellular matrix (ICM),  is a network consisting of  [[extracellular]] [[macromolecule]]s and minerals, such as [[collagen]], [[enzyme]]s, [[glycoprotein]]s and [[hydroxyapatite]] that provide structural and [[biochemistry|biochemical]] support to surrounding cells.<ref name="addr">{{cite journal | vauthors = Theocharis AD, Skandalis SS, Gialeli C, Karamanos NK | title = Extracellular matrix structure | journal = Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews | volume = 97 | pages = 4–27 | date = February 2016 | pmid = 26562801 | doi = 10.1016/j.addr.2015.11.001 }}</ref><ref name="bonnans">{{cite journal | vauthors = Bonnans C, Chou J, Werb Z | title = Remodelling the extracellular matrix in development and disease | journal = Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology | volume = 15 | issue = 12 | pages = 786–801 | date = December 2014 | pmid = 25415508 | pmc = 4316204 | doi = 10.1038/nrm3904 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Michel G, Tonon T, Scornet D, Cock JM, Kloareg B | title = The cell wall polysaccharide metabolism of the brown alga Ectocarpus siliculosus. Insights into the evolution of extracellular matrix polysaccharides in Eukaryotes | journal = The New Phytologist | volume = 188 | issue = 1 | pages = 82–97 | date = October 2010 | pmid = 20618907 | doi = 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03374.x | doi-access = free | bibcode = 2010NewPh.188...82M }}{{open access}}</ref> Because [[Multicellular organism|multicellularity]] evolved independently in different multicellular lineages, the composition of ECM varies between multicellular structures; however, cell adhesion, cell-to-cell communication and differentiation are common functions of the ECM.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Abedin M, King N | title = Diverse evolutionary paths to cell adhesion | journal = Trends in Cell Biology | volume = 20 | issue = 12 | pages = 734–42 | date = December 2010 | pmid = 20817460 | pmc = 2991404 | doi = 10.1016/j.tcb.2010.08.002 | bibcode = 2010TCBio..20..734A }}</ref>

The animal extracellular [[Matrix (biology)|matrix]] includes the interstitial matrix and the [[basement membrane]].<ref name="Robbins">{{cite book |last1=Kumar |last2=Abbas |last3=Fausto |title=Robbins and Cotran: Pathologic Basis of Disease |location=Philadelphia |publisher=Elsevier |edition=7th |isbn=978-0-7216-0187-8 |title-link=Surgical sieve#Pathologic Basis Of Disease |year=2005 }}</ref> Interstitial matrix is present between various animal cells (i.e., in the intercellular spaces). Gels of [[polysaccharide]]s and fibrous proteins fill the [[Interstitial fluid|interstitial space]] and act as a compression buffer against the stress placed on the ECM.<ref name=ECB>{{cite book | vauthors = Alberts B, Bray D, Hopin K, Johnson A, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K, Walter P | title = Essential cell biology | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/essentialcellbio00albe | chapter-url-access = registration | chapter = Tissues and Cancer | location = New York and London | publisher = [[Garland Science]] | year = 2004 | isbn = 978-0-8153-3481-1 }}</ref> Basement membranes are sheet-like depositions of ECM on which various [[epithelial]] cells rest. Each type of [[connective tissue]] in animals has a type of ECM: [[collagen]] fibers and [[bone mineral]] comprise the ECM of [[bone tissue]]; [[reticular fiber]]s and [[ground substance]] comprise the ECM of [[loose connective tissue]]; and [[blood plasma]] is the ECM of [[blood]].

The plant ECM includes [[cell wall]] components, like cellulose, in addition to more complex signaling molecules.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Brownlee|first=Colin|title=Role of the extracellular matrix in cell-cell signalling: paracrine paradigms|journal=[[Current Opinion in Plant Biology]]|date=October 2002|volume=5|issue=5|pages=396–401|doi=10.1016/S1369-5266(02)00286-8|pmid=12183177|bibcode=2002COPB....5..396B }}</ref>  Some single-celled organisms adopt multicellular [[biofilms]] in which the cells are embedded in an ECM composed primarily of [[extracellular polymeric substance]]s (EPS).<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Kostakioti M, Hadjifrangiskou M, Hultgren SJ | title = Bacterial biofilms: development, dispersal, and therapeutic strategies in the dawn of the postantibiotic era | journal = Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine | volume = 3 | issue = 4 | pages = a010306 | date = April 2013 | pmid = 23545571 | pmc = 3683961 | doi = 10.1101/cshperspect.a010306 }}</ref>