Project description
Mechanisms of communication in ageing
The Mechano-Ageing project, funded under the European Union HORIZON scheme, will “dig into the mechanics of ageing,” according to its principal investigator. Considering ageing as an altered state of communication between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM), Mechano-Ageing will investigate where signalling goes wrong. The project will employ modern transcriptomics and functional tests in engineered cell lines to address an intriguing question: Can we rejuvenate cells by restoring the levels of key proteins involved in cell-ECM communication? The basic suspects, ECM proteins, may well represent new therapeutic targets for ageing-related pathologies.
Objective
"A recent work published by the host laboratory had redefined aging as a mechano-disease. Transcriptional co-factors YAP/TAZ, masters of mechanotransduction, were critical in stromal cells to prevent aging. Importantly, restoring cell-ECM communication and YAP/TAZ level was sufficient to ""rejuvenate"" old cells. Consequently, we hypothesize that the culprit of aging should be searched in ECM changes that drive the loss of mechanotransduction in stromal cells. Using single cell RNA-sequencing data of mouse dermal fibroblasts and mass-spec analyses of the dermis ECM during aging, we will seek for ECM candidates that may be at the root of this process. Then, we will build an Atlas of the mouse skin during aging using spatial transcriptomic and immunolabeling of mechanoresponsive proteins to unveiled new interconnections between the ECM and altered mechanotransduction during aging. As validation, we will use two complementary in vitro approaches. First, old mice fibroblasts will be culture on a young ECM synthetized by engineered young mice fibroblast lacking specific ECM genes, pinpointing to ECM proteins able to rejuvenate old cells. Second, we will generate 3D organotypic skin culture with keratinocytes and engineered dermal fibroblast lacking specific ECM candidate. We will ask whether it affects mechanosignaling and acquisition of aging traits in both dermis and epidermal compartments. Digging into the “mechanics of aging” is crucial because it would add a new paradigm on the causes of cell senescence and aging, define new markers for healthy aging and inform on new therapeutic perspectives to combat aging or some of its associated pathologies."
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
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.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
35122 PADOVA
Italy
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.