Tissue specific microenvironments: a key tool for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

The accumulated evidence points to the microenvironment as the primary mediator of cellular fate determination. Comprised of parenchymal cells, stromal cells, structural extracellular matrix proteins, and signaling molecules, the microenvironment is a complex and synergistic edifice that varies tiss...

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Published inJournal of biological engineering Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 34
Main Authors Sachs, Patrick C, Mollica, Peter A, Bruno, Robert D
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England BioMed Central Ltd 16.11.2017
BioMed Central
BMC
Subjects
Review
Tissue engineering
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Summary:The accumulated evidence points to the microenvironment as the primary mediator of cellular fate determination. Comprised of parenchymal cells, stromal cells, structural extracellular matrix proteins, and signaling molecules, the microenvironment is a complex and synergistic edifice that varies tissue to tissue. Furthermore, it has become increasingly clear that the microenvironment plays crucial roles in the establishment and progression of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, cancer, and ageing. Here we review the historical perspectives on the microenvironment, and how it has directed current explorations in tissue engineering. By thoroughly understanding the role of the microenvironment, we can begin to correctly manipulate it to prevent and cure diseases through regenerative medicine techniques.
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ISSN:1754-1611
1754-1611
DOI:10.1186/s13036-017-0077-0