Part 1 Matrix chemistry and structure: fibronectin, G. Paolella et al; laminin, Albert E. Chung; structure and function of laminin and gene regulation of basement membrane components, Yoshihiko Yamada et al; adhesion molecules in embryogenesis and histogenesis, Stanley Hoffman and Kathryn L. Crossin; regulation of collagen gene expression, Sherrill L. Adams; fibrillar collagens - their biosynthesis, molecular structure and mode of assembly, Marcel E. Nimi; basement membrane collagen - structure, assembly and biosynthesis, Heinz Furthmayr; propeptide-mediated regulation of procollagen synthesis, Catherine H. Wu et al. Part 2 Extracellular matrix of the liver: matrix, matrix synthesis and molecular networks in hepatic fibrosis, Detlef Schuppan et al; morphology, localization and origin of the hepatic extracellular matrix, Antonion Martinez-Hernandez and Peter S. Amenta. Part 3 Pharmacology/endocrinology and therapeutics of matrix: peptide hormone and cytokine regulation of matrix synthesis, Silvia Degli Esposti and Mark A. Zern; glucocorticoid regulation of procollagen synthesis, Kenneth R. Cutroneo; prostaglandins' effects on the extracellular matrix, Mary J. Ruwart and Keith S. Henley; drug therapy in liver cirrhosis - novel approaches, Gilles A. Morali and Lawrence M. Blendis. Part 4 Functions: extracellular matrix and the development of tissue architecture - a mechanochemical perspective, Donald E. Ingber; inhibition of smooth-muscle cell proliferation by Heparinlike molecules, Christopher F. Reilly; matrix regulation of gap junctions and of excitability in cells, Elizabeth Rosenberg et al; extracellular matrix-resident growth factors and enzymes, Israel Vlodavsky et al; cell adhesion mediated by matrix components of bone marrow, Max S. Wicha and Alan D. Campbell; the liver as a stem cell and lineage system, Samuel H. Sigal et al. Part 5 Pathogenesis: pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis, Mario Chojkier; extracellular matrix and metastasis, Isabel Zvibel and Andrea Kraft.