stromális

Stromális is a biological term used to describe structures or cells related to the stroma, the supportive tissue of an organ or tumor. The stroma provides structural support and houses the extracellular matrix, blood vessels, fibroblasts, immune cells, and other components. It contrasts with the parenchyma, the functional tissue that carries out an organ’s specific activities.

In histology, stromal components include fibrous connective tissue, collagen and elastin, and various cell types that produce and remodel the extracellular matrix. Stromal signaling influences development, tissue repair, and homeostasis by interacting with parenchymal cells through cytokines, growth factors, and matrix proteins.

In pathology and oncology, the stromal compartment of a lesion or tumor is critical for its behavior. Cancer-associated fibroblasts, inflammatory cells, and angiogenic endothelium form the tumor stroma, which can promote tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis or, in some contexts, restrain progression. Therapies targeting stromal elements, matrix remodeling, or stromal–immune interactions are under investigation.

The term stromális is used in several languages to denote relationships to stroma; in English, stromal is the common form. The concept also appears in plant biology when referring to the fluid-filled stroma of chloroplasts, where stromal proteins and processes are studied as part of photosynthesis and metabolism.