Project description
The mechanobiology of epithelial tissue
Epithelium constitutes a continuous layer of cells that covers nearly all external and internal surfaces of the body serving as a barrier. To achieve homeostasis, epithelial cells are constantly renewed, and dead cells are removed by extrusion. The EU-funded DeadorAlive project is interested to understand the mechanism of cell extrusion and delineate the drivers of the process. Researchers will investigate the dynamics of cell extrusion and the impact of mechanical stress and forces from neighbouring cells on the fate of extruded cells. Considering that cell extrusion is a hallmark of cancer, project results will help understand the mechanism of metastasis.
Objective
Epithelia are assemblies of multiple cells whose complex dynamic behavior relies on physical properties including jamming-unjamming mechanisms, active turbulence and active nematic principles. The homeostasis of epithelia is crucial to maintain barrier function and integrity while epithelial cells are constantly challenged by the environment. To face these challenges, epithelia are dynamics and have to deal constantly with cell renewal and apoptotic extrusion, whose balance is key for epithelia homeostasis. On top of this role in tissue homeostasis, cell extrusion is a major cause of tissue shape changes and tumor progression. Extrusion mechanisms can thus lead to different cell fates namely dead or live cells but the factors selecting different cell fates are unknown. Extruding cells and their neighbors experience various mechanical stresses that lead to cell shape changes and could determine the way cells are extruded and their fate. However, these mechanical stresses and their impact on tissue organization remain to be determined.
From our recent study on emergent active nematic properties of epithelia, we hypothesize that mechanical constraints coming from the active forces generated by neighboring cells and the passive physical properties of the environment can determine the modes of cell extrusion and the fate of extruded cells. Here we propose to tackle the molecular mechanisms and physical principles that determine the manner by which cells are extruded and the collective response of surrounding cells, and to evaluate their contribution in tissue homeostasis, morphogenesis and tumor progression. By combining tools from soft matter physics, cell biology and engineering, our project will reveal how active and passive physical signals are overarching components of the behaviors of tissues at different temporal and spatial scales, and may further establish novel paths to understand the mechanobiology of epithelial tissues in normal and pathological conditions.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-ADG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
91058 ERLANGEN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.