TLDR Some types of extracellular matrix can change how human skin cells grow but don't affect their basic functions.
The study from 2016 examined how different extracellular matrix (ECM) types—type IV collagen, fibronectin, Matrigel, and hyaluronate—affect the growth characteristics of human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in vitro. It was found that type IV collagen and fibronectin improved the migration, aggregation, and viability of DPCs, while Matrigel and hyaluronate did not. Although Matrigel increased mRNA expression of certain genes, such as NCAM and α-SMA, and hyaluronate decreased their expression, these changes were not reflected at the protein level. The study concluded that while ECM types can alter some growth characteristics of DPCs, they do not impact the cells' biological functions. The research was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of China and the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education, China.
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July 2016 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” Some types of extracellular matrix can change how human skin cells grow but don't affect their basic functions.