How the extracellular matrix shapes neural development

Abstract

During development, both cells and tissues must acquire the correct shape to allow their proper function. This is especially relevant in the nervous system, where the shape of individual cell processes, such as the axons and dendrites, and the shape of entire tissues, such as the folding of the neocortex, are highly specialized. While many aspects of neural development have been uncovered, there are still several open questions concerning the mechanisms governing cell and tissue shape. In this review, we discuss the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in these processes. In particular, we consider how the ECM regulates cell shape, proliferation, differentiation and migration, and more recent work highlighting a key role of ECM in the morphogenesis of neural tissues.

Effect of Laminin Derived Peptides IKVAV and LRE Tethered to Hyaluronic Acid on hiPSC Derived Neural Stem Cell Morphology, Attachment and Neurite Extension

“…Previous comparisons of cellular attachment to HA and laminin could not be found in the literature, but comparisons of HA and laminin attachment to other molecules have produced mixed results [15][16][17][18]. Both HA and laminin have been found to increase axon extension separately [3] and in combination [14], but increased neurite extension was not observed in the present study ( Figure 3). These inconsistencies in and with the literature could be due to changes in a number of physical and chemical factors between studies that play a role in neural cell attachment and differentiation [50].…”

“…Due to its relatively low content in neural tissue [1], the effects of the extracellular matrix (ECM) on neural cell and tissue function have been understudied. However, recent evidence indicates that a number of ECM properties, including biochemical composition, have significant effects on the behavior and function of neural cell types and tissue [2][3][4]. This has significant ramifications for the development of biomaterials to support therapeutic and in vitro models of the central nervous system (CNS).…”

Brain Organoids: Human Neurodevelopment in a Dish

“…Matrigel or more defined collagen gels were shown in 2009 to support the formation of 3D intestinal organoids from intestinal stem cells or small explants grown in the gel (Ootani et al 2009;Sato et al 2009). The combination of physical properties such as rigidity of the gel along with additional signaling cues present in basement membrane ligands of Matrigel means that it can support organoid formation by providing both a scaffold and influencing various biological functions such as tissue polarity and cell migration (Long and Huttner 2019). Indeed, the addition of Matrigel at various stages of 3D brain organoid protocols appears to have the effect of rapidly promoting the formation of polarized neural tube-like buds from neuroepithelial tissue.…”

Multilayer modelling and analysis of the human transcriptome

“…For example, a community of 15 genes in the "Brain Hippocampus" showed a significant enrichment for diseases associated with glycosaminoglycan metabolism (adjusted p-value = 0.026; see Figure 5). Interestingly, glycosaminoglycans, which are major extracellular matrix components whose interactions with tissue effectors can alter tissue integrity, have been shown to play a role in brain development (40,41), modulating neurite outgrowth and participating in synaptogenesis. Alterations of glycosaminoglycan structures from Alzheimer's disease hippocampus have been implicated in impaired tissue homeostasis in the Alzheimers disease brain (42).…”