Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-157). / Stromal cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) components provide the microenvironment that is pivotal for cell growth, motility, attachment and differentiation. Fibroblasts are some of the cells responsible for the synthesis of most of the extracellular matrix proteins. Type I collagen is the most abundant extracellular matrix protein in the human body and is found in tissues requiring high tensile strength. In this study we investigated the effect of a pre-formed fibroblast-derived extracellular matrix on the expression of type I collagen and associated matrix metalloproteinases in fibroblasts.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uct/oai:localhost:11427/3125 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Dzobo, Kevin |
| Contributors | Parker, Iqbal |
| Publisher | University of Cape Town, Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Medical Biochemistry |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Doctoral Thesis, Doctoral, PhD |
| Format | application/pdf |
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