ABSTRACT
Extracellular matrix is a general term that refers to the structural, macromolecular components of a tissue (1). In the lung, it includes interstitial connective tissues as well as basement membranes below airway and alveolar epithelial cells and surrounding vascular endothelial cells. Lung extracellular matrix plays an important role in growth and development, as well as in tissue homeostasis and repair. The principal extracellular matrix molecules that make up the pulmonary interstitium are fibrillar collagens and elastic fibers. In addition to their structural properties, these extracellular matrix molecules function as regulators of biological processes by interacting with growth factors, cytokines, and cell surface receptors (2,3). The complete molecular structure and function of the extracellular matrix, however, have not yet been elucidated.
