Complex extracellular matrix, liver cell

Inflammatory processes in the liver increase production of cytokines, chemokines, and signaling molecules, which activate the stellate cells to produce a complex extracellular glycoprotein matrix (i.e., the development of fibrosis). The matrix formed includes collagen, elastin, fibronectin, and laminin. Several noninvasive tests can be used as nonspecific indicators of fibrosis, but these have not been widely applied in laboratory animals. These tests include the collagen markers type III procollagen, YKL-40, and hyaluronic acid however, these tests have not been widely evaluated in laboratory animals (Cho and Lee 1998 Tran et al. 2000 Ding et al. 2001 Mardini and Record 2005). 

Microfabrication enables the creation of complex tissue-engineered products that can be used to replace or augment failing organs and tissues. The number and variety of microfabricated tissue-engineered products have increased rapidly in the last several years microporous biocapsules to provide immunological protection to pancreatic islets micropattemed hepatocytes and mesenchymal cells as key components of liver assist devices microtextures basement-membrane-type structures to create skin with proper surface texture and microspatial control of the distribution of vitronection or other extracellular matrix proteins to promote the formation of mineralized bone-like tissue in vivo (Bhatia and Chen, 1999). 

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