Hellenic Research Club for Connective Tissue and Matrix Biology

Club scope

The Hellenic Research Club for Connective Tissue and Matrix Biology (HRCTMB) was founded in 1996 and operates inside the Hellenic Society of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (HSBMB). The scope of our Club is to promote research in the fields of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Medicine, Biotechnology and Clinical Chemistry, relating to Connective Tissue or Extracellular Matrix, and also to create the proper conditions for the communication between researchers in this field, in order for them to be informed, to exchange opinions and to create conceptual scientific networks. HRCTMB is a member of the international Federation of European Connective Tissue Societies (FECTS) and also a member of the International Society for Matrix Biology.

Introductory notes

Extracellular Matrix or network, which was formerly referred as "ground substance" and also commonly addressed as Connective Tissue, covers the cellular body and at same time supports its growth inside the tissue. It is a complex network of macromolecules which contain structural proteins, such as collagen and elastin, structural and functional scaffolding macromolecules, such as proteglycans and hyaluronan, and special proteins, like laminin and fibronectin. This network of macromolecules along with its structural role, which is mainly focused in providing mechanical support for cellular growth, it also has other important biological roles. Specifically the molecules of the network interact with the residing cells and regulate important biological functions, such as adhesion, migration, proliferation and differentiation. These distinct cellular operations depend on the composition and structural organization of the extracellular matrix macromolecules. Therefore, extracellular matrix is considered to be a biological active tissue that it regulates physiological cellular aspects and it participates in the development of pathological molecular- biochemical alterations. This involvement of the matrix in (patho)physiological pathways has turned the scientific interest towards the correlation of the matrix composition with the development of various diseases, such as cancer and atherosclerosis, in order to comprehend the mechanisms that promote their development and hence to develop novel methodologies for diagnosis, protection and cure for these diseases.

New scientific breakthroughs in the field of scientific tools, including biochemical techniques of isolation, biochemical analysis, molecular and cellular biology techniques, immunochemistry, structural and macromolecular chemistry, contribute to the former scope.

Scientific development in the field during the last years led to the creation of international research centers, collaboration networks and postgraduate programs. Currently, high level research in the field of extracellular matrix is mainly focused on three levels:

1. Composition, structural characterization and organization of macromolecules that constitute the extracellular matrix,
2. Relation between structure and function, as well as the metabolism of the ingredients of extracellular matrix,
3. Investigation of the involvement and the regulatory role of extacellular matrix components in both normal cellular functions and the development of deseases, and vice versa.

Short history

The Hellenic Group was founded in October 1996, by an iniative of the University of Patras. The founding Meeting and Congress took place in Patras in 10/04/1997 and a coordination committee was elected: K. Tsiganos as a President, A. Haronis as a secretary and N. Karamanos, M. Maragudakis, D. Tsampaos as members from the university of Patras and D. Kletsas (NCSR Demokritos) A. Koilakos (A.U.T), as representatives from Athens and Thessaliniki, respectively.

The second official meeting of the group took place in 13/11/1997 and the third in 17/5/1998, during the meeting for the European Training Program in Microseparation Techniques, a meeting that was organized by Prof. N. Karamanos, in Patras.

In August 1998, for the first time Greece appears as an independent Group in the 16th Meeting of Federation of European Connective Tissue Societies (FECTS) in Uppsala, Sweden, were it claimed and finally won the organization of the next (17th) FECTS Congress for the year 2000.

The Hellenic Group organized the 17th FECTS Congress in Patras, in 1-5/7/2000, with great success. Participation from Europe, N. America, Australia and Japan surpass the number of 500 scientists. The program contained 21 major speeches and 9 different workshops. The Congress coincided with the announcement of the decoding of the Human Genome and therefore the opening speech by Prof. Eleni Glycandji Arveler, Rector of the University of Europe and distinct member of UNESCO, dealt with bioethics in Science.

The fourth official meeting of the members of the Group took place in 17/05/2003 at the amphitheatre of the Ippokration Hospital of Athens and was organized by Assoc. Prof. A. Haronis.

The fifth official meeting of the members of our group took place in 17/05/2003 at the institute of Biology of the NCSR Demokritos and was organized by Dr. D.Kletsas. The 6th meeting took place in Ippokratio Hospital of Thessaloniki and was organized by Assoc. Prof. G. Koliakos.

During the 53rd, 54th, 55th and 56th Congresses of EEBMB in Athens 2001, Ioannina 2002, Athens 2003 and Larissa 2004, respectively, sessions regarding extracellular matrix took place organized by members of the group. Similar events become a tradition inside the Hellenic Congresses of EEBMB due to the creative cooperation between scientific groups in the field.