Open AccessDSS-induced damage to basement membranes is repaired by matrix replacement and crosslinking
Author(s) -
Angela Howard,
Kimberly S. LaFever,
Aidan M. Fenix,
Cherie’ R. Scurrah,
Ken S. Lau,
Dylan T. Burnette,
Gautam Bhave,
Nicholas Ferrell,
Andrea Page-McCaw
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of cell science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.384
H-Index - 278
eISSN - 1477-9137
pISSN - 0021-9533
DOI - 10.1242/jcs.226860
Subject(s) - basement membrane , membrane , extracellular matrix , biology , basement , matrix (chemical analysis) , microbiology and biotechnology , biophysics , biochemistry , materials science , composite material , engineering , civil engineering
Basement membranes are an ancient form of animal extracellular matrix. As important structural and functional components of tissues, basement membranes are subject to environmental damage and must be repaired while maintaining functions. Little is known about how basement membranes get repaired. This paucity stems from a lack of suitable in vivo models for analyzing repair. Here we show that Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS) directly damages the gut basement membrane when fed to adult Drosophila. DSS becomes incorporated into the basement membrane, promoting its expansion while decreasing its stiffness, which causes morphological changes to the underlying muscles. Remarkably, two days after withdrawal of DSS, the basement membrane is repaired by all measures. We used this new damage model to determine that repair requires collagen crosslinking and replacement of damaged components. Genetic and biochemical evidence indicate that crosslinking is required to stabilize the newly incorporated repaired collagen IV rather than to stabilize the damaged collagen IV. These results suggest that basement membranes are surprisingly dynamic.