Extracellular matrix in liver tissue (ECM)

The extracellular matrix (ECM) in liver tissue is a complex network of macromolecules—primarily collagens, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and various associated proteins—that provides structural scaffolding and regulates cellular behavior, including adhesion, migration, proliferation, differentiation, and immune response[5][1][4][3][7]. In healthy liver, the ECM is limited and dynamically regulated; in pathological states such as chronic injury or cirrhosis, excessive ECM deposition and altered composition disrupt normal architecture, leading to fibrosis, inflammation, and impaired function[2][4][6][7]. While ECM components, such as specific collagens or glycoproteins, may serve as drug targets and diagnostic biomarkers, "extracellular matrix deposition" itself is a process, not a molecular entity or canonical therapeutic target. Note: The entry "Extracellular matrix deposition in liver tissue" is not a molecular target (e.g., receptor or enzyme) but describes a phenomenon/process. When targeting therapeutic interventions, specific ECM constituents (e.g., collagen type I, matrix metalloproteinases) or their biosynthetic/modulatory pathways are considered true molecular targets[3][5][6].

Other names

Extracellular matrix (liver)Hepatic extracellular matrix

Drugs affecting ECM deposition typically act through inhibition of ECM synthesis, promotion of ECM degradation (e.g., by upregulating matrix metalloproteinases), or modulation of collagen deposition.