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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2020 May 1.
Published in final edited form as: Brain Res Bull. 2019 Mar 18;148:25–33. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2019.03.004

Table 1:

Summary of the major ECM components of the CNS.

Location ECM Component Role
Major ECM constituents of the stem cell niche/fractone Laminin Cell adhesion, migration, guidance
Collagen Cell adhesion, migration, guidance; structural integrity
Heparin sulfate proteoglycans Associate with growth factors to regulate differentiation
Additional constituents of the CNS ECM Fibronectin Expression coincides with phases of neuronal differentiation during development; Aids cell adhesion, migration, and survival
Tenascin-C, Tenascin-R TN-C: Cell adhesion; associate with growth factors to regulate differentiation
TN-R: Associated with NSPC proliferation and neuronal differentiation
Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans Stabilize synaptic connections. Major component of the inhibitory glial scar formed by astrocytes after injury.
Hyaluronic acid Cell adhesion. Aids differentiation in the developing CNS. Supportive matrix for NSPC transplantation that also decreases immune response and reactive gliosis.