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In this animated video of the Extracellular Matrix (ECM), we showcase how the Nordic Bioscience Protein Fingerprint neo-epitope technology provides serological quantification for ECM remodeling. The human body is formed from a single cell that divides into trillions of cells that make up the unique organs of our bodies. All cells in the human body carry the same genetic material. The only way they know how to interact, behave, and form the organs is because of the context that surrounds them. This context is called the extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix is a dynamic three-dimensional network that provides stability, signaling and structural support to the organs. The main type of proteins in the extracellular matrix are collagens. Several different types of collagen exist. One example is type I collagen which creates fibers and provides strength and support to the organs. Another example is type IV collagen that is found below the cells. Type IV collagen forms a structure that helps maintain the barrier between tissue compartments and work as the first line of defense. It interacts with other proteins and thereby enables signaling to the cells. The collagens are different in all organs of the human body. This means that the collagens of the heart are different from the collagens of the liver and lungs. In the lungs, for example, the alveoli membrane is mainly composed of type IV collagen, which helps the exchange of oxygen into the blood. During the development of chronic diseases such as lung fibrosis, the collagens in the interstitial matrix expand. The tissue becomes stiff, leading to decreased lung function that can be life-threatening for the patient. The change in the collagens is seen not only in lung diseases but in most chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The common denominator of all chronic diseases is severe tissue damage resulting in cell death and changes in collagen composition. Inflammatory cells migrate to the site of damage, secrete proteases, and consequently break down the collagen fibers releasing collagen fragments into the environment. Fibroblasts are then activated to build large complex collagen fibers. To form the fibers the fibroblasts, secrete collagen proteins. During this process, end fragments are cleaved off to enable attachment of the collagen proteins to each other. Just like building blocks, the proteins come together to produce strong fibers. The cleaved-off fragments are then released into the environment where they attract more inflammatory cells. This maintains the vicious circle of build-up and break-down of collagens that fuel chronic diseases. Both the build-up and break-down collagen fragments are released into the blood where they circulate together with blood cells and can be used as targets for blood-based biomarkers. Collagens are structured as a triple helix, where different domains of the same collagen provide unique information. Some fragments reflect tissue build-up, some reflect tissue break-down and others are signaling fragments. In patients with chronic diseases, there is an increase in tissue build-up, tissue break-down, and signaling fragments, while in healthy subjects there is a finely tuned balance of the tissue. The levels of tissue remodeling vary from the individual chronic diseases, both in terms of tissue build-up and tissue break-down as well as the types of collagens involved. Nordic Bioscience Protein Fingerprint Technology is the only technology that differentiates tissue build-up from tissue break-down, by quantifying different fragments from the same collagen. This is essential to understand and treat all chronic diseases. Learn more at For more information, please visit our website: Or contact us: Video by David Ganderup Follow us on our other social media channels to stay informed on the latest news of cutting-edge biomarker research! LinkedIn: Twitter: #nordicbioscience #lifescience #extracellularmatrix #biomarkers #proteinfingerprint #medicalanimation #ecm
