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Holding it Together

Why and how cells stick together

21 December 2019

Holding it Together

Just as a building needs mortar to hold the bricks together, your cells need ‘molecular mortar’– known as the extra-cellular matrix (ECM) – to hold them in place. Rather than being an inert sticky glue, the ECM is a mass of molecules that controls cell communication, movement, growth and function. So it’s unsurprising that problems with the ECM can lead to cells growing out of control, causing serious health conditions such as fibrosis [a build-up of thick scar tissue] or even cancer. These cells are fibroblasts purified from human lung, which produce the molecules making up the ECM. One of these, fibronectin, is highlighted in white. Thousands of people around the world are affected by fibrosis in their lungs – an irreversible, incurable condition that makes it hard to breathe. By studying the role of fibroblasts and fibronectin, researchers are understanding how healthy tissues are held together and why things go wrong.

Written by Kat Arney

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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