Matrisome gene products

The matrisome refers to the ensemble of genes and their protein products that constitute the extracellular matrix (ECM) and its associated proteins (Naba et al., 2012, PMID: 22140364). Defined through bioinformatic and proteomic approaches, it encompasses approximately 1,000 proteins in humans, categorized into the "core matrisome" (collagens, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans) and "matrisome-associated" proteins (ECM-affiliated proteins, ECM regulators like proteases, and secreted factors) (Hynes and Naba, 2012, PMID: 22229677). These products provide not only structural scaffolding for tissues but also critical biochemical signals that regulate cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. In disease states such as cancer and fibrosis, the matrisome undergoes significant remodeling, leading to altered tissue stiffness and the release of sequestered growth factors that promote progression (MatrisomeDB, 2023). While the matrisome as a whole is a broad category rather than a single target, many of its individual components, such as integrins and matrix metalloproteinases, are major focuses of therapeutic intervention.

Other names

MatrisomeExtracellular matrix proteomeECM and ECM-associated proteins

Drugs targeting matrisome components typically act by inhibiting ECM-degrading enzymes (e.g., MMP inhibitors), blocking cell-surface receptors that bind ECM (e.g., integrin antagonists), or enzymatically degrading specific ECM components to improve drug delivery or reduce fibrosis.