The extracellular matrix and the immune system: A mutually dependent relationship
Open accessAbstract
For decades, immunologists have studied the role of circulating immune cells in host protection, with a more recent appreciation of immune cells resident within the tissue microenvironment and the intercommunication between nonhematopoietic cells and immune cells. However, the extracellular matrix (ECM), which comprises at least a third of tissue structures, remains relatively underexplored in immunology. Similarly, matrix biologists often overlook regulation of complex structural matrices by the immune system. We are only beginning to understand the scale at which ECM structures determine immune cell localization and function. Additionally, we need to better understand how immune cells dictate ECM complexity. This review aims to highlight the potential for biological discovery at the interface of immunology and matrix biology.
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Macrophages drive extracellular matrix deposition by fibroblasts during repair and can directly degrade and remodel the extracellular matrix during resolution.
“Many studies have also shown that macrophages drive ECM deposition by fibroblasts during the repair process and can directly degrade and remodel the ECM during resolution (11, 12).”
From Matrix mechanical remodeled carrier-free nanosystem for programmable closed-loop reversal of liver fibrosis via STING alkylation (2025) · cites this paper as [11]
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“Many studies have also shown that macrophages drive ECM deposition by fibroblasts during the repair process and can directly degrade and remodel the ECM during resolution ( 11 , 12 ).”
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- Authors
- Sutherland, T. E., Dyer, D. P., & Allen, J. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Aberdeen (GB)
- Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Allen, Judith E.
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 2023-02-17
- Volume
- 379
- Issue
- 6633
- Pages
- eabp8964-eabp8964
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W4321018211
- Cited by
- 519
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 154 · 2025: 171 · 2024: 137 · 2023: 56 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 16.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
- Aberdeen University Research Archive (Aberdeen University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust (203128, 106898/A/15/Z, 218570/Z/19/Z, 203128/A/16/Z)
- Medical Research Council (MR/K01207X/2, MR/V011235/1)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › TGF-β signaling in diseases
- Keywords
- extracellular matrix, immune system, tissue microenvironment, immune cell localization, immune cell function, non-hematopoietic cells, intercellular communication, matrix biology
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Extracellular Matrix, Humans, Immune System, Extracellular Matrix Proteins
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