Extracellular Matrix Animation: Quantifying Tissue Remodeling through the Nordic ProteinFingerPrint™

Summary

The human body's trillions of cells are guided by the extracellular matrix, primarily composed of collagens. Different collagen types, such as type I and IV, provide structural support and maintain tissue barriers. Chronic diseases like lung fibrosis, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases involve tissue damage and altered collagen composition. Inflammation leads to collagen fiber breakdown and fibroblast activation, creating a cycle that fuels disease progression. Nordic Bioscience's Protein Fingerprint Technology can differentiate tissue build-up from break-down, offering insights into chronic disease management.

Takeaways

• 🌱 The human body originates from a single cell that multiplies into trillions, forming the organs with the same genetic material but different functions due to their context within the extracellular matrix.
• 🧬 All cells in the human body carry identical genetic material, and their behavior and organ formation are guided by the extracellular matrix context.
• 🕸️ The extracellular matrix is a dynamic 3D network that offers stability, signaling, and structural support to organs, primarily composed of collagen proteins.
• 🔍 There are various types of collagen, such as type I which provides strength and support, and type IV which helps maintain tissue barriers and serves as a first line of defense.
• 🫀 Collagens vary across different organs, with type IV collagen being crucial in the lungs for oxygen exchange, highlighting the organ-specific composition of collagens.
• 💔 Chronic diseases like lung fibrosis are characterized by an expansion of collagens in the interstitial matrix, causing tissue stiffness and reduced organ function.
• 🔄 In chronic diseases, tissue damage leads to cell death and changes in collagen composition, with inflammatory cells breaking down collagen fibers and releasing fragments.
• 🛠️ Fibroblasts are activated to build complex collagen fibers in response to tissue damage, contributing to the vicious cycle of collagen build-up and break-down in chronic diseases.
• 🩸 Both build-up and break-down collagen fragments circulate in the blood, serving as potential blood-based biomarkers for chronic diseases.
• 🌀 Collagens are structured as a triple helix with different domains providing unique information about tissue health and signaling.
• 📈 Nordic Bioscience's Protein Fingerprint Technology can differentiate tissue build-up from break-down by quantifying collagen fragments, offering insights for chronic disease management.

Q & A

How is the human body initially formed?

The human body is initially formed from a single cell that divides into trillions of cells, which then make up the unique organs of our bodies.

What is the significance of genetic material in all cells of the human body?

All cells in the human body carry the same genetic material, which is crucial for how they interact, behave, and form the organs.

What is the extracellular matrix and what role does it play in the body?

The extracellular matrix is a dynamic three-dimensional network that provides stability, signaling, and structural support to the organs.

What are the main types of proteins found in the extracellular matrix?

The main type of proteins in the extracellular matrix is collagens, which come in several different types.

How does type I collagen contribute to the organs?

Type I collagen creates fibers that provide strength and support to the organs.

What is the function of type IV collagen in the body?

Type IV collagen is found below the cells and forms a structure that helps maintain the barrier between tissue compartments and works as the first line of defense.

How do the collagens vary in different organs of the human body?

The collagens are different in all organs of the human body, meaning that the collagens of the heart are different from those of the liver and lungs.

What role does type IV collagen play in the lungs?

In the lungs, the alveoli membrane is mainly composed of type IV collagen, which helps the exchange of oxygen into the blood.

How does chronic disease affect the collagens in the body?

During the development of chronic diseases, the collagens in the interstitial matrix expand, causing the tissue to become stiff and leading to decreased organ function.

What is the process that leads to a vicious circle of collagen build-up and break-down in chronic diseases?

Inflammatory cells migrate to the site of damage, secrete proteases, breaking down collagen fibers and releasing fragments. Fibroblasts are activated to build complex collagen fibers, and the cleaved off fragments attract more inflammatory cells, maintaining the cycle.

How can collagen fragments be used in the context of chronic diseases?

Both the build-up and break-down collagen fragments are released into the blood, where they circulate with blood cells and can be used as targets for blood-based biomarkers.

What unique capability does Nordic Bioscience Protein Fingerprint Technology offer?

Nordic Bioscience Protein Fingerprint Technology is the only technology that differentiates tissue build-up from tissue break-down by quantifying different fragments from the same collagen.

How does the structure of collagens provide unique information for tissue analysis?

Collagens are structured as a triple helix, with different domains providing unique information about tissue build-up, break-down, and signaling fragments.

What is the difference in collagen levels between patients with chronic diseases and healthy subjects?

In patients with chronic diseases, there is an increase in tissue build-up, tissue break-down, and signaling fragments, while in healthy subjects, there is a finely tuned balance of the tissue.

How does the variation in tissue remodeling levels relate to different chronic diseases?

The levels of tissue remodeling vary from one chronic disease to another, both in terms of tissue build-up and break-down as well as the types of collagens involved.