30 Questions
What is the function of the basal lamina in the development of the nervous system?
It provides ECM pathways for neuron migration
Where does the basal lamina serve as a selectively permeable blood filter?
Kidney
In which type of tissue does the basal lamina surround each cell?
Muscle
What is the role of the basal lamina in the formation of a tight barrier that limits diffusion of molecules between the blood and the brain?
It forms the tight barrier
Which process does the basal lamina assist in during the development of four- and eight-celled embryos?
Adhering embryos together in a ball
In which type of epithelia is the basal lamina a foundation on which only one surface of the cells rests?
Columnar
What is the significance of the components of the basal lamina being highly conserved throughout evolution?
It implies a critical and enduring function
In which type of tissue is the basal lamina important for organizing cells into tissues and distinct compartments?
Muscle
What is the role of the basal lamina in regeneration after tissue damage?
Repairing tissues
In which stage of embryonic development does the basal lamina help four- and eight-celled embryos adhere together in a ball?
Morula
Which component of the Basal Laminae consists of a large multidomain core protein to which polysaccharides are covalently attached?
Perlecan
Which type of mutation is associated with Alport’s syndrome?
Mutations in type IV collagen
Which process leads to fibrosis?
Overproduction and excessive deposition of ECM
What promotes tumor cell survival and facilitates metastatic tumor cell growth in the metastatic niche?
Increased levels of MMPs
What is a reservoir for growth factors such as VEGF, PDGF, and TGF-$eta$?
Perlecan
Which disease is directly targeted by interference with the hyaluronic acid/CD44 signaling pathway?
Atherosclerosis
What is the role of tenascin C within ECM in promoting pancreatic cancer?
Promotes angiogenesis
Which cells play critical roles in the formation of tumor ECM that promotes tumorigenesis?
All of the above
What controls the migration of immune cells and tumor cells within the tumor microenvironment?
Confined ECM geometries
What is a useful therapeutic target for improving drug delivery and efficacy?
Perlecan
Which protein is a major structural component of basal laminae and can bind to adhesion receptors?
Type IV collagen
What is the composition of laminin, a key component of basal laminae?
Heterotrimeric protein with α, ß, and γ chains
What is the function of the basement membrane in relation to endothelial cells?
Inhibits the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells
How many laminin isoforms can be formed by combining α, ß, and γ chains?
16
What is the consequence of defects in the glomerular basement membrane in the kidney?
Leads to renal failure
What is the role of matrix metalloproteinases in relation to the basement membrane during tumor growth?
Degrade the basement membrane
Which protein forms a 400-nm-long triple helix that is interrupted about 24 times by nonhelical segments?
Type IV collagen
What are mutations in genes encoding basement membrane components associated with?
Various human diseases
What is the hope in researching the process of angiogenesis?
To prevent tumor growth
What is the main function of the basement membrane in relation to endothelial cells during tumor growth?
Prevents the formation of new blood vessels
Study Notes
Extracellular Matrix Components and Basement Membrane Function
- The basement membrane is composed of four main protein components: Type IV collagen, laminins, perlecan, and nidogen, which form a two-dimensional network.
- Laminin, a key component of basal laminae, is a multi-adhesive matrix protein that helps cross-link components of the basal lamina.
- Laminin is a heterotrimeric protein consisting of α, ß, and γ chains, which can be combined to give at least 16 laminin isoforms, each with a distinctive pattern of tissue- and developmental stage–specific expression.
- Mutations in genes encoding basement membrane components are associated with various human diseases, such as Alport syndrome, dystrophic EB, and Goodpasture syndrome.
- The basement membrane inhibits the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, preventing the formation of new blood vessels; however, during tumor growth, matrix metalloproteinases degrade the basement membrane, promoting angiogenesis.
- Type IV collagen, a sheet-forming protein, is a major structural component of basal laminae and can bind to adhesion receptors, including integrins.
- Collagens are trimeric proteins, and mammals express six homologous IVa chains, which assemble into three different heterotrimeric type IV collagens with distinct properties.
- The unique properties of each collagen isoform are due mainly to differences in the number and lengths of the collagenous triple-helical segments, and covalent modifications of the alpha chains.
- Type IV collagen forms a 400-nm-long triple helix that is interrupted about 24 times by nonhelical segments and assembles into a branching, irregular two-dimensional fibrous network with laminin.
- In the kidney, defects in the glomerular basement membrane, which separates the urinary space from surrounding blood-filled capillaries, can lead to renal failure.
- The basement membrane is the target of research on tumor growth, with the hope that inhibition of angiogenesis may be used to prevent tumor growth.
- Research on the process of angiogenesis offers hope for the development of treatments to inhibit tumor growth.
Test your knowledge of extracellular matrix components and basement membrane function with this quiz. Explore key proteins like Type IV collagen, laminins, perlecan, and nidogen, and their roles in maintaining tissue structure and preventing angiogenesis. Learn about diseases linked to mutations in basement membrane genes and their impact on renal function.
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