Now, we know that stem cell niches interact with stem cells via a number of ways, including cell-to-cell contact, cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion, and presentation of soluble growth factors.
We identified genes of many pathways involved in the β-sitosterol-related response, such as glycan degradation, fatty acid biosynthesis, antigen processing and presentation, ECM-receptor interactions, and oxidative phosphorylation.
» … microvessel preparations from PbA-infected mice presented PbGAP50 peptide but not those from mice infected with non-ECM inducing strains.« This study also indicates that activation of Plasmodium-specific CD8+ T cells by DCs in periphery is not directly linked to ECM, and cross-presentation of malaria antigens by microvessel target cells, is critical for the pathogenesis.
Genes commonly down regulated by CR were associated with focal adhesion, antigen processing and presentation, ECM-receptor interaction, DNA replication, MAPK signaling, cell communication, VEGF signaling and natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity (P < 0.01; over-represented KEGG pathways) (Additional File 5).
We hypothesize that the difference in cross-presentation may reflect a difference in sequestration between ECM and non-ECM parasites.
Invadopodia promote the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by coordinating the presentation of matrix metalloprotease 14 (MMP14, also known as membrane type-1 MMP (MT1 MMP)) to the tips of the protruding structure and by increasing the secretion of MMP2 and MMP9 (Murphy and Courtneidge, 2011).
These ECM-interactive materials are promising candidates as biomaterials for tissue regeneration applications, due to the combined benefits of a tightly controlled, synthetic hydrogel, with the natural presentation of ECM matrix analogs that can actively retain bioactive molecules.
"Eislermaterial" may be gone from the scene for now, but thankfully there is a recording of this Ensemble Modern presentation on the ECM label taken from a live 1998 performance in Berlin.
Nevertheless, we have demonstrated that treatment with chloroquine and artesunate massively reduces the parasite load in the periphery and more importantly in the brain, preventing antigen presentation and ensuing ECM death.
Further, treatment with fast-acting anti-malarial drugs before the onset of ECM reduces parasite load and thus antigen presentation in the brain, preventing ECM death.
