Ira Pastor, ideaXme exponential health ambassador and founder of Bioquark, interviews Prof. Dr. Collin Ewald, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, at ETH Zurich (The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich), Founder of Swiss Society for Aging Research and Vice President Swiss Society for Matrix Biology.
Ira Pastor comments:
On the last several shows we have spent time on different hierarchical levels of the biologic-architecture of the life, disease and aging process. We’ve spent some time talking about the genome, the microbiome, tissue engineering, systems biology, and many other fascinating topics.
One crucial area that we have not ventured into much yet, which is where we will be heading today, is into the topic of the extracellular matrix.
The Extracellular Matrix
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a non-cellular component present within all tissues and organs, and it provides not only essential physical scaffolding for the cellular constituents, but it also initiates crucial biochemical and biomechanical cues that are required for tissue morphogenesis, differentiation, and homeostasis.
In each organ, the composition of the ECM is distinct. It has an active three-dimensional structure that is formed by a network of macromolecules, including collagen, enzymes, and glycoproteins, that provide structural and biochemical support, and is continuously undergoing remodeling to regulate tissue homeostasis, regrowth and healing of tissues, and injury repair.
Impairment in regulation of the ECM composition can play a role in many diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pancreatic ductal diseases, spinal cord injury, progression and metastasis of breast cancer, as well as neurodegenerative conditions in the brain such as Alzheimer’s disease.
A greater comprehension of the way in which the ECM regulates organ structure and function and of how ECM remodeling affects the development of diseases may lead to the improvement and discovery of new treatments.
Prof. Dr. Collin Ewald
So for today’s guest, joining us we have Prof. Dr. Collin Ewald, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, at ETH Zurich (The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich), Founder of Swiss Society for Aging Research and Vice President of Swiss Society for Matrix Biology.
With a Masters in molecular biology (University of Basel) and a PhD in neuroscience (City University New York) , Dr. Ewald’s career has taken him through many prominent research organizations including the Harvard Medical School, Joslin Diabetes Center, and the Whitehead Institute.
Dr. Ewald’s group at ETH studies the molecular mechanisms that prolong health during aging, using the C. elegans in order to develop novel strategies to treat age-related pathologies. Their recent work has shown that many health and longevity promoting interventions are involved in reactivating the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) genes.
He’s extensively published in the area, and most recently his group published a fascinating paper on this work entitled “The Matrisome During Aging and Longevity: A Systems-Level Approach Towards Defining Matreotypes Promoting Healthy Aging.”
The matrisome is defined as the battery of genes encoding the ensemble of extracellular matrix and ECM-associated proteins.
Today we will hear from Dr. Ewald:
About his background and where he grew up. How he became interested in health, molecular biology, neuroscience, and aging. How he developed an interest into this fascinating segment of systems biology. About the importance of the cell-ECM bi-directional relationship in maintaining health. We’ll hear about his work in ECM gene expression. Finally, we’ll hear his thoughts on ECM therapeutic interventions and ECM cross-linking as it pertains to aging.
Credits: Ira Pastor interview video, text, and audio.
Follow Ira Pastor on Twitter: @IraSamuelPastor
If you liked this interview, be sure to check out our interview with Dr. Robert Langer, the “Thomas Edison of Our Time.”
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