DR. ANNA MARIA PICCININI (Orcid ID : 0000-0002-7588-0415) Article type : Review A complex interplay between the extracellular matrix and the innate immune response to microbial pathogens Short title: The extracellular matrix and infection Hannah Tomlin, Anna Maria Piccinini* Article School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK *Correspondence: Anna Maria Piccinini, Pharmacy School Building, East Drive, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
[email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 115 82 32274 Key words: extracellular matrix, infection, immunity Accepted This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as doi: 10.1111/imm.12972 This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Summary The role of the host extracellular matrix (ECM) in infection tends to be neglected. However, the complex interactions between invading pathogens, host tissues and immune cells occur in the context of the ECM. On the pathogen side, a variety of surface and secreted molecules, including microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMM) and tissue degrading enzymes, are employed that interact with different ECM proteins in order to effectively establish an infection at specific sites. Microbial pathogens can also hijack or misuse host proteolytic systems to modify the ECM, evade immune responses or process biologically active molecules such as cell surface receptors and cytokines that direct cell behaviour and immune defense. On the host side, the ECM composition and three-dimensional ultrastructure undergo significant modifications, which Article have a profound impact on the specific signals that the ECM conveys to immune cells at the forefront of infection.