RESEARCH ARTICLE


The Extracellular Matrix Protein 1 (ECM1) in Skin Biology: An Update for the Pleiotropic Action



Noritaka Oyama1, *, Joseph Merregaert2
1 Division of Dermatology and Dermato-Allergology, Matsuda General Hospital, Ohno, Fukui 912-0026, Japan
2 Emeritus Professor at the University of Antwerp, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium


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Creative Commons License
© Oyama and Merregaert

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Division of Dermatology and Dermato-Allergology, Matsuda General Hospital, Ohno, Fukui 912-0026, Japan.Tel: +81-(0)779-66-3238; Fax: +81-(0)779-66-6098; E-mail: norider@wine.plala.or.jp


Abstract

Extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) is a secreted glycoprotein that plays a pivotal role in the structural and homeostatic biology of the skin, particularly in angiogenesis, reconstitution of basement membrane, proliferation and differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts, and malignant transformation. This rationale is substantiated by loss-of-function mutations in the ECM1 gene in an autosomal recessive genodermatosis lipoid proteinosis and circulating IgG autoantibodies to this molecule in a humoral autoimmune condition lichen sclerosus, both of which are counterpart disease conditions sharing comparable skin pathology. In the recent decade, considerable progress has been made in determining the in vivo function of ECM1 in animal model studies. Furthermore, underlying insights arose for the genetic predisposition in inflammatory bowel disease ulcerative colitis, acquisition of immune tolerance and allergic responses via particular T cell subsets such as CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and Th2 cells, regeneration of certain organs, and clinical advantages for diagnostic and prognostic significance in various cancers. Following our latest review in 2009, we now update the most recent evidences for the pleiotropic action of ECM1 in skin research, and also highlight the novel pathogenic relevance of this molecule in a variety of human disorders.

Keywords: Extracellular matrix, protein 1 (ECM1), pleiotropic action.