Extracellular matrix. 2: Role of extracellular matrix molecules and their receptors in the nervous system.

Extracellular matrix molecules help regulate many aspects of neural development, including survival, migration, axon growth, and synapse formation by neurons. These same molecules have been shown to modulate regeneration of neurons after injuries. They also regulate the development and differentiation of other neural cells, such as astroglia and Schwann cells. Significant progress has been made recently in characterizing both ECM constituents and their receptors in the nervous system. Extracellular matrix molecules promote cell adhesion, activate intracellular signaling pathways, and modulate the activities of several growth factors and proteins. Our current understanding of the extracellular matrix, its receptors, and its functions in the nervous system are discussed.