Project description
Modulating cell senescence for therapeutic benefit
Cell senescence is a natural process tightly linked with ageing, development and tissue repair, where cells undergo cell cycle arrest and may trigger the recruitment of immune cells. In cancer, cell senescence is also responsible for acquired drug resistance, tumour progression and metastasis. The EU-funded MRTFSen project aims to provide mechanistic insight into the process by focussing on the role of myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTFs). MRTFs, in association with the transcription factor serum response factor (SRF), act as transcriptional co-activators to transduce cytoskeletal signals to the nucleus and promote myogenic differentiation and cytoskeletal organisation. Scientists will investigate the molecular mechanisms by which MRTF-SRF signalling inhibits cell senescence, unveiling potential senescence pathway targets with therapeutic value.
Objective
Myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTFs) are G-actin binding proteins which act as transcriptional co-activators Myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTFs) are G-actin binding proteins which act as transcriptional co-activators in association with the transcription factor SRF. MRTF-SRF target genes encode numerous proteins involved in actin dynamics, cell adhesion, migration and contractility. The subcellular localization of the MRTFs is controlled by actin binding which inhibits their nuclear import and promotes their nuclear export. Extracellular signals which activate Rho-family GTPases induce actin polymerization and G-actin depletion, which induces MRTF shuttling to the nucleus and transcriptional activation of MRTF-SRF target genes. The MRTF-SRF pathway activation via Rho plays an important role in cancer cell invasion and metastasis. In addition, in MRTF-SRF signalling inhibits cell senescence in hepatocarcinoma cells which present high Rho activity, but this has not been investigated in other cell types or cancer models. Cell senescence is a process of cell-cycle arrest which typically occurs in ageing, cancer, development or tissue repair, and can facilitate recruitment of immune cells. In the tumour microenvironment, senescent cells can direct events such as therapeutic resistance or metastasis that support malignant progression. In this project we will determine the molecular mechanisms by which MRTF-SRF signalling inhibits cell senescence in MEFs. We also aim to investigate the possibility for it to modulate melanoma progression in the BRafV600E mouse model, where senescence is an initial step prior tumour transformation. Increasing evidence suggests that anti- and pro-senescent therapies can be beneficial also in other pathologies, such as fibrosis, by limiting cell proliferation and allowing clearance of damaged cells. These studies have the potential to reveal new approaches to the modulation of senescence pathways for therapeutic benefit.
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.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology skin cancer melanoma
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
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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.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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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.
NW1 1AT London
United Kingdom
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.