Replacing an Extracellular Matrix Component to Treat Degenerative Disc Disease The extracellular matrix is a complex structure of molecules generated and maintained by cells to support themselves and determine the physical properties of a tissue, such as load-bearing capacity or elasticity. The extracellular matrix changes with age in ways that are not fully explored, but which harm cells and tissue function. Comparatively little effort is focused on finding ways to repair the aged extracellular matrix, in part because it seems a hard problem. There are few points of intervention that can be as simple as the one noted here, where delivering a novel substitute molecule allows it to be incorporated into the matrix to improve matters. In most cases, providing the raw materials is not enough; there are issues of cell activities, problematic alterations to […]
https://www.fightaging.org/arc....hives/2025/05/replac