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Fig. 2 | Cell Communication and Signaling

Fig. 2

From: Exosomal microRNAs derived from mesenchymal stem cells: cell-to-cell messages

Fig. 2

α4β1 integrin very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) is expressed by MSCs, and its respective ligand, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) isexpressed by endothelial cells. Inflammation in damaged tissues induces secretion of cytokines that up-regulate VCAM-1 and activate VLA-4, causing the binding of MSCs to the endothelial surface. Moreover, MSCs express various receptors, CD44, CXCR4, c-Met, CCR1 and respective ligands, such as M1P-1 (alpha), hyaluronic acid, SDF-1, and HGF, which are up-regulated in hypoxia and/or tissue damage. These ligand-receptor interactions, together with chemotactic bioactive lipids, regulate cell-to-cell contact between endothelial cells and MSCs. Complement proteins are induced in inflammation namely C3a, C1q, and C5a and also attract MSCs. MSCs express matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2), and extracellular matrix-degrading membrane type (MT)1-MMP that can encourage extravasation

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