Abstract
Fibrillins are the structural components of extracellular microfibrils that impart physical properties to tissues, alone or together with elastin as elastic fibers. Genetic studies in mice have revealed that fibrillin-rich microfibrils are also involved in regulating developmental programs and homeostatic processes through the modulation of TGF-β/BMP signaling events. A new paradigm has thus emerged whereby the spatiotemporal organization of microfibrils dictates both the cellular activities and physical properties of connective tissues. These observations have paved the way to novel therapeutic approaches aimed at counteracting the life-threatening complications in human conditions caused by dysfunctions of fibrillin-rich microfibrils.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2437-2446 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences |
Volume | 64 |
Issue number | 18 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2007 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Aortic aneurysm
- Development and morphogenesis
- Emphysema
- Extracellular matrix
- Fibrillin
- Marfan syndrome
- Myopathy
- TGF-β/BMP signaling molecules
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Medicine
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Cell Biology